The government last summer issued the vouchers in a bid to revive the country’s pandemic-hit tourism industry. The scheme aimed at encouraging residents and cross-border workers to book a stay in the grand duchy as international tourists were largely absent because of travel restrictions.

Around 15% of the vouchers have been redeemed so far. A deadline to use them by the end of 2020 was extended until 18 April this year after the government shut down restaurants in November amid rising infection numbers.

While hotels are still able to operate, they can only offer room service, which industry representatives says is keeping people away.

The government earlier this month tentatively said restaurants might be able to reopen at the start of April if infection numbers remain stable.

But the tourism ministry said the deadline would not be pushed again, despite demands from the Horesca federation to include this summer or even extend the scheme until the end of the year.

This article was first published in French on paperjam.lu and has been translated and edited for Delano.