TOKYO: Of eating and drinking establishments in Japan, 33.9 percent said they may consider closing their businesses, a private survey has shown.

The proportion of such eateries rose by 3.5 percentage points from the previous survey conducted in April, Tokyo Shoko Research Ltd. said in a survey report Monday.

The percentage of respondents saying they may consider business closure exceeded 30 percent also for the hotel industry and providers of services related to people’s daily lives, such as operators of theaters and wedding halls.

“Industries offering face-to-face services, including hotels and restaurants, will unlikely see their sales grow substantially even after the coronavirus is brought under control,” a Tokyo Shoko Research official said, offering the view that management anxieties felt by such businesses may not be eliminated for the time being.

According to the latest survey, companies predicting that COVID-19 will come under control by the end of this year accounted for only 17.7 percent, while the majority said the pandemic will continue into next year.

Tokyo Shoko Research conducted the survey over the internet between June 1 and June 9. Valid responses were given by 10,828 companies.

JIJI Press