AROUND two-thirds of Belfast city centre shops may not open during next year's Twelfth demonstrations after tensions around parades and complaints about drunkeness hit trade.
Most shops have opened on July 12 over the Past five years, amid attempts to rebrand the annual loyal order marches as 'Orangefest'.
But a Belfast City Centre Management report said trade was badly hit and one "well-known High Street brand" had only seven customers.
The report said shop owners have questioned whether they should continue to open on July 12.
Around 80 per cent of shops that opened said their trade was below expectations, the BBC reported.
Businesses suggested "an increase in tensions" may have put people off the city centre and complained about public drinking and littering.
Visit Belfast received complaints from tourists who talked of "an intimidatory atmosphere" and "louts roaming around drunk."
The report said that, based on their experience this year, around 65 per cent of businesses would potentially not open on July 12 next year.
A spokesman for the Orange Order's County Grand Lodge of Belfast said it was aware of the Belfast City Centre Management report.
"The institution has had a good and successful working relationship with Belfast City Centre Management over many years, and we remain committed to work with all our city centre partners to enhance the Twelfth of July celebrations in Belfast," he said.