About 15 businesses in Sigatoka Town have closed and more are showing signs of closure by the end of the year, four businesses have changed their business activity while entire villages have lost their source of income because of lack of tourism activity.
This has been confirmed by the Sigatoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Interim Secretary, Doctor Ashank Naidu.
To give an indication on the number of people who have lost their jobs or are on reduced hours, Doctor Naidu says there are some cases where entire villages who were reliant on the tourism industry and there is no village or settlement that is unaffected.
He says Sigatoka took a nosedive when the virus hit in March but business has now stagnated.
Dr. Naidu says a furniture shop had closed down but is now operating as a liquor shop and they are taking advantage of the reduction in duty while some minibus operators that were transporting hotel workers are now taking vegetables and other items to the market.
He adds the Love Our Locals initiative has given a boost to the hotels and restaurants in towns.
Dr. Naidu says businesses need to change their business activity and their way of thinking and try and adapt to a different field that will bring income and put food on the table.
