Sri Lanka Tourism working out recovery plans
View(s):The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), currently drafting a plan on recovery, is looking at assisting the industry to make a comeback in about a year’s time.
At the board meeting held on Tuesday it had been discussed that some of the issues related to staff in the industry need to be addressed as all stakeholders like the tour guides, suppliers and others have to operate once the industry gets back on track.
Board member Thilak Weerasinghe noted that they would be approaching the government on ensuring that the loan concessions granted following the Easter attacks last year will need to be extended for one more year. Last year the government granted a one year interest free moratorium on loans by companies that were scheduled to commence payment from March 31, 2020.
“But we couldn’t do that since COVID started by then and we want them to grant an extension,” he said.
As a part of granting relief to guides the licensing fee charged from them will be removed for another one more year as was implemented post April 21, 2019 attacks.
In terms of the DMCs (Destination Management Companies) that have requested for relief the board wants to find out who has actually contributed the Tourism Development Levy payment in a bid to receive the necessary assistance.
Mr. Weerasinghe also noted that the authorities are also looking at the over 11,000 tourists in the country at present and have observed that some of them are likely to be Sri Lankans holding foreign passports. In the meantime, he noted that hotels were providing their rooms for a payment of Rs.7500 per day per person with three meals for those arriving from overseas to stay under quarantine before going back home.
In this respect, Jetwing, Dolphin, Mt. Lavinia Hotel and Citrus are currently being used to house these persons arriving in the country.
Hotel staff have been trained by the security forces on how to manage their establishments as quarantine centres and in this respect a set menu is offered with no buffet. (SD)