Locals will not be permitted at guesthouses once they start welcoming tourists.

Senior Executive Director at the Ministry of Tourism, Ali Razzan revealed this during an interview on RaajjeTV’s Fala Surukhee programme on Saturday.

Noting that guesthouses are being allowed to restart operations under a special permit following the Covid-19 pandemic, Razzan said that as per the current guideline locals are not permitted once a guesthouse start welcoming foreigners.

While guesthouses in the capital are to restart operations on Monday, the ministry officials said that the guesthouses have the option to either serve locals or foreigners.

Razzan said that guesthouse in the city were being used as transit facilities due to the demand in tourist arrivals, adding that this was done as they believed as the most beneficial for the nation.

Further noting that the country’s Covid-19 situation is seen to be improving, he said that the ministry and the Health Protection Agency (HPA) officials hold daily discussions to ensure that it remains so.

He said that locals will be allowed at tourist establishments after approval from health officials, adding that domestic tourism is an important component of the industry.