Thursday, the Jordan Restaurants Association (JRA), in the presence of the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Nayef Al-Fayez, discussed with the Minister of Health Nathir Obeidat and the Head of the Coronavirus Portfolio Wael Al-Hayajneh, the issue of re-offering shishas in coffee shops and cafes after it was banned, however, no date was set in the meeting to allow shisha to be served.

On Nov. 17, Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh issued decisions to ban serving shisha in attempts to limit COVID-19 infections.

Also Read: Restaurants, cafes no longer permitted to serve shisha: Government

Obeidat and Al-Hayajneh feared the impact this decision would have on the pandemic curve in the Kingdom. However, members of the JRA stressed how these decisions had negative effects on the restaurant, cafe and commercial sector.

According to a JRA member, Essam Al-Jamal, Al-Fayez promised to reconsider providing shisha in coffee shops and organizing the sector's work in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

In statements to Al-Rai newspaper Thursday, Al-Jamal said that Al-Fayez promised to find a solution to exempt restaurants from profession license fees for the current year 2021, in light of the negative impact and financial losses they have faced due to this ban.

Shisha services play a very prominent role in the work and profit of cafes and restaurants that fall under the umbrella of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The number of restaurants in various categories and classifications (restaurants, coffee shops, fast food, etc.) total to about 1,007 establishments distributed in all regions of the Kingdom. This sector employs over 21,000 employees directly and more than 100,000 workers indirectly, as it supports more than 60 professions.