Tourism moratoriums need extension
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is worried that the government has not yet agreed to extend the moratorium on loans that allows them to stay afloat. SMEs will be the first to be hit if the hotels cannot continue operations.
While the industry is making all efforts to get the multiple travel advisories to be relaxed – it is only fair that the government will provide another moratorium until the end of December, Tourist Hotels Association President M. Shanthikumar told the Business Times. Moratoriums for loans to the tourism industry are drawing to a close by the end of this month.
He pointed out that this does not mean the industry is asking for anything for free; on the contrary it is only the circumstances that have resulted in the request for a delay in payments.
With hotels running at 10 per cent occupancies it is not possible for companies to pay the large loans they had obtained in the past.
And irrespective of government policy on promotions, the private sector has taken an initiative to carry on with the promotions like in the past with the support of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTBP).
In this respect, Mr. Shanthikumar said Tourism Minister Harin Fernando has taken an initiative to carry on the promotions and start with an Indian roadshow from July 12 for one week. The tourism industry hopes to generate more travellers from India following this promotion campaign.
Minister Fernando is said to be in London where he is likely to meet with tour operators to try and convince them to sell Sri Lanka and increase arrivals to the country. Following his meeting there, he would later meet tour operators of Germany and France when travelling to these two markets as well.
With these promotions, the industry expects an increase in arrivals for this year’s Esala Perahera in August.
Mr. Shanthikumar explained that even without government support the private sector remained resilient to take up initiatives on their own and ensure tourists remain happy during their stay in the country.
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