Radio episode: The pandemic's toll on Gaza's tourism sector

Pal-Think for Strategic Studies organised a radio episode titled “The repercussions of the corona pandemic on the tourism sector in the Gaza Strip”, within the project “Gaza confronting corona”, implemented by Pal-Think for Strategic Studies with support from the Atlas Network. The guest was Mr Moeen Abu al-Khair, head of the restaurants association in the Gaza Strip, who spoke on the following axes:

• The repercussions of the corona pandemic on the tourism sector in Gaza.
• How tourism activity in the Gaza Strip was affected by the total closure during the corona pandemic.
• The closure's repercussions on the work of restaurants.
• The nature of tourist restaurants' work these days, nearly two months after the virus's spread inside the Gaza Strip.

The episode discussed the financial situation of the owners of tourist establishments and restaurants, how they were dealt with, the cooperation of the relevant official institutions, and the losses sustained by this important sector, struck by economic and financial paralysis. Questions were raised about the situation of the establishments converted into quarantine sites, and the national, humanitarian, and social role the owners of establishments and the tourism sectors have played from the beginning of the corona pandemic until now. Also discussed was

the situation of the workers in these establishments, hotels, and rest-houses — estimated at 7,000 workers — and what the government and the establishment owners have done toward providing them financial support, since their wages are low and they work by the day, and whether they were covered by the “Waqfet Ezz” fund the Authority launched at the pandemic's start. We also touched on the humanitarian factor and the humane role toward the workers.

Finally — what is the association's vision for lifting this sector; and in closing came the question of the wedding halls and when their work would resume.

The guest noted during the episode that the government institutions — specifically the ministries of economy, tourism, and labour — must shoulder their responsibility toward the tourism institutions and their workers, because they have sustained heavy losses as a result of the total closure and of working only until eight in the evening. The guest presented comprehensive informative content on this vital sector through the figures and statistics of interest to listeners about the tourism and restaurant sector in the Strip.