Move to level 1 will help industry gather momentum, says Sun International COO
Sun International Group COO of Hospitality Graham Wood says the move to lockdown level 1 comes as a massive relief to the struggling hospitality and entertainment industry.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a move to lockdown level 1 on Wednesday evening after the country spent six months under strict Covid-19 restrictions.
Ramaphosa announced the easing of several restrictions, including international travel and social and religious gatherings.
Wood says the an additional two hours of trading time, due to further relaxation of the curfew, will help casinos.
"The move to level 1 lockdown restrictions is a relief, especially relaxing the curfew, permitting leisure facilities to allow 50% of capacity, and allowing larger gatherings from midnight on 20 September. This means our entertainment and conferencing facilities can begin to operate again.
"it will also allow the industry to start gathering a little bit of momentum with an additional number of people on the venues," says Wood.
He says the casinos have been trading since July, but the gradual opening of South Africa’s borders will provide a further shot in the arm.
"The road ahead will not be easy but we can now plan for the recovery of the hospitality and conferencing segments of our business.”
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Restrictions on international travel were among the first to take effect when the lockdown was announced in March. Ramaphosa addressed the nation from the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday evening where he announced a move to level 1 of the lockdown. He warned that caution would still need to be exercised regardless of the eased regulations.
