COVID-19 impact on SA event industry
The COVID-19 impact is going to be felt for some time.
On 15 March President Ramaphosa declared COVID-19 a national disaster.
Watching the world slowly shut down due to the global disaster that is COVID-19, South Africans waited in suspense to hear what our president, Cyril Ramaphosa, proposed to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Although his speech was delayed, he delivered a concise plan moving forward, not mincing his words in the slightest.
“The world is facing a medical emergency greater than in a century,” he said.
He then put forth his plan for containment involving 10 steps:
- Declare a national state of emergency
- Travel ban + visa cancellations for visitors from high-risk countries (Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, US, UK, China.
- Shut down schools from Wednesday, 18 March to April 18.
- Visa denial to anyone who has visited high-risk countries
- Enhanced testing of SA citizens returning from high-risk countries
- 35 land ports and 2 seaports to be closed
- Non-essential travel by all levels of government stopped
- No prison visits for 30 days
- Any foreign national who has visited high-risk countries in the past 20 days to be denied a visa
10. Gathering of more than 100 prohibited
The final step of the plan involves the prohibition of gatherings of more than 100 people, which while totally necessary, has major implications.
Following the announcement, social media is rampant with event postponements or cancellations, which will have a far-reaching impact on the industry and economy.
It’s not hard to get 100 people together and if you think of it, it’s not only events that will feel the effect.
Clubs, pubs, bars, hotels will all suffer. The entire hospitality industry will get hit the hardest!
It’s doesn’t have a ‘work from home’ option AT ALL.
In the UK, a petition was created calling for financial assistance from the government for the UK events industry during this pandemic.
So, spare a thought for all the artists, promoters and service providers who will be feeling the COVID-19 impact financially from today.
Sourced
