Even after two years when countries started imposing restrictions to limit the spread of Covid-19, the situation remains unchanged amidst assurances reports that future variants may be less fatal or dominant.
One of the biggest victims of these restrictions has been the business of organising events and those associated with them — the small traders and vendors.
The Sultanate of Oman has not hosted its biggest social event, the Muscat Festival, since 2020 and not to forget all types of stage and public events that bring livelihood to small and medium entrepreneurs.
While some of them shifted to virtual models, they do not provide the same opportunities offered by live events.
Speaking to the Observer, sources names in the local event management industry said that the situation was not good even before the start of the pandemic because of the economic slowdown.
“The corporate and government spending were rationalised following the drop in oil prices and subsequent austerity measures. But one needs to understand that not just the events companies were affected and those who supplied flowers for decorations, catering, and transport for guests. Even in normal circumstances, businesses were seasonal, and Covid-19 made it a point of no return’’, said Sajesh, a former executive of an event management company in Oman, and now based in neighbouring Dubai.
“While health of the public must be given utmost importance, but with the Covid-19 not going away anytime soon, it is important to find a balance between public safety and livelihood.
The Dubai expo has been attracting tourists in large numbers and Covid-19 cases have not gone up just because of that one event’’, said Salem, who used to employ Omani drivers to transport participants of big events.
“I paid my staff for some time without work because I just wanted to retain them, but later realised that it is impossible to sustain for such a long period’’, he said. Several such businesses were forced to put their staff on furlough because the virtual seminars were not employment providers.
While the second half of 2021 gave hope, the emergence of Omicron variant has kept the fingers crossed.
According to the industry, very few can be expected to survive for longer than six months without any cash flow unless they manage to successfully diversify to alternative models to generate income.
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