Hotel owners and tour operators are seeking government assistance to withstand the severe impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak which brought the hospitality industry to a standstill.
The hospitality industry players requested the government for a stimulus package that can help them rescue their businesses and retain their staff at these trying times. Travel restrictions, flight disruptions, social distancing and lockdown directives have brought down the local hospitality industry to its knees. Hotel occupancy rate in Addis Ababa and major regional towns has nosedived to almost zero. Hotel owners have sent out their staff members on paid leave.
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