Relief package excludes tourism transport sector affected by Easter terror
Sri Lanka’s inbound tourism transport sector closely associated with the tourists visiting the country has been excluded in the government’s relief package aimed at strengthening the tourism industry affected by Easter terror attacks, the Chauffeur Tourist Guide Lecturers’ Association of Sri Lanka (CTGLA) complained.
In the wake of these attacks, the tourism transport service is on the verge of collapse amidst a depleting vehicle fleet and the neglect of sustainable practices, members of the association warned.
They have brought to the notice of the Finance Ministry and Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) that they have taken leasing facilities from finance companies to purchase vehicles to provide transport services for tourists, and have to pay monthly installments.
Their income has zeroed owing to cancellation of bookings by tourists and the sudden drop in tourist arrivals, a letter sent to the SLTDA Director General by C.A Dharmaratne, General Secretary of CTGLA revealed.
CTGLA requested the Finance Ministry to include inbound tourism transport sector in the gazette notification relating to the relief package and extend the moratorium that will be announced by the Central Bank to tourism institutions and individuals for the payment of monthly loan (vehicle leasing facility) installment by at least six months.
Mr. Dharmaratne has said that members of the association have made financial commitments for vehicle leasing facilities amounting to Rs. 5 to Rs. 8 million for cars and Rs. 7 to Rs 12 million for vans to maintain tourism transport service.
Minister of State for Finance Eran Wickremaratne announced on Tuesday that the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposed “Relief Package” to strengthen the tourism industry affected by Easter Sunday terror attacks.
Association Vice President Ranjith Sudasinghe told the Business Times that they have urged the Finance Minister to give them concessionary relief to import economical and environmentally-friendly passenger cars and vans for tourist transport, under the strict guidance of the Ministries of Finance and Tourism.
This request was endorsed by the SLTDA but no action has been taken as yet, he said.
The association has also urged the Finance Minister to grant them even a loan facility under the Enterprise Sri Lanka programme similar to the loan given to school van operators up to Rs.4 million to by a vehicle at the concessionary rate of interest of 3.38 percent, Mr. Sudasinghe disclosed.
He added that it is the Chauffeur Tourist Guide lecturers who account for the airport pickup, inland transport and eventually airport drop of over 80 per cent of the tourists who visit Sri Lanka.