Fitness sector representatives start planning for reopening

AMMAN— As the National Anti-Pandemic  Committee transmitted its recommendations to the Minister of Health Saad Jaber, with the objective of reopening the Kingdom’s places of worship, restaurants, cafés and sports centres, fitness sector representatives start planning for the worst and hoping for the “best” amidst the outbreak.

Until now no decisions have been made regarding the fitness industry, therefore it is crucial to set a survival plan for the short term and for the foreseeable future after the pandemic, Salma Ali, a Jordanian general manager at a fitness centre, told The Jordan Times on Thursday.

“Jordan’s economy has reopened in phases, but the fitness industry was one of the last sectors to be considered, therefore sale tax exceptions must be offered to help us survive,” Ali quoted as saying.

“It will be a slow start,” Ali expressed, adding that apart from adjusting their fitness model in order to maintain the gym’s clientele, which encompass a substantial number of members from different ages, focus must be put on providing an adequate revenue stream, to stay in business.

This pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the fitness industry, everything is uncertain and the scale of damage is yet to be determined after the re-opening of the sector, according to Suad Zoheir who is a supervisor at one of Amman’s gyms.

“One way or another we will exist in some sort of social distancing framework, so it is crucial to uphold the same value of services that our customers are used to while guaranteeing that they are safe with us,” said Zoheir.

Batoul Wasfe, a Jordanian sports trainer, told The Jordan Times on Thursday that during the lockdown she continued her personal training services and after the gyms reopen she is ready to offer online coaching to members who wish to continue with their gym subscriptions while at home.

“Before COVID-19 we offered our members loyalty cards in order to be constantly engaged with them, but now we should think of new ways,” Wasfe further said.

Hala Soyuf , a fitness enthusiast, told The Jordan Times that she is thrilled to go back to the gym and start working out.

Adding: “The concepts of fitness for the past ten years have changed tremendously, but I think after this pandemic the industry’s representatives need to change the conventional gym experience, by incorporating new technology into its framework.”