The Palestinian Authority for Restaurants, Hotels and Tourism Services in the Gaza Strip warned, Friday evening, of an economic catastrophe that will affect the tourism sector, following the decisions of the competent authorities to close wedding halls.
Iman Awad, Vice President of the Authority, said in a statement that the sudden decision, without prior coordination, shocked the owners of political establishments, restaurants and wedding halls, and caused heavy financial losses for them, especially the halls that were preparing for weddings and events and receiving customers on Friday, which could have been avoided by remaining work until The month of Ramadan, noting that previously, an agreement had been reached to return to work and adhere to the means of preventing the Coronavirus.
Awwad called on government authorities to control the various sectors before starting the tourism sector, explaining that the opening of tourist halls and facilities took place by mutual agreement in accordance with safety procedures and in a very small number with twice the common spacing.
She said, "All of this is matched by the continuing operation of schools and kindergartens ten times the number and the same area without clear preventive measures."
And she warned that closing the halls would lead to an increase in random weddings in the absence of oversight in the various regions in the governorates, which would make the situation out of control and government follow-up.
The vice president of the authority stressed the need for government institutions to provide the necessary pledges to compensate the tourism sector, exempt it from various fees and taxes, and the rents of the Land Authority, and the municipalities, and not be satisfied only by taking the decision to close without paying attention to the suffering of the tourist establishments and their workers.
