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Inclement weather a blow to tourism in the South
View(s):The recent floods in the southern province have hit the tourism industry, which was on a slow recovery path.
“We have lost all hopes for the upcoming December season,” Unawatuna Hoteliers’ Association president Nimal Geeganage said.
He said many hotels in the region have stopped preparatory work for the December season due to the weather situation as well as financial problems.
In the Matara district, the heavy rains have led to the flooding of a few hotels, mainly those located near major rivers such as ‘Kalu, ’Gin’, and’ Nilwala’.
“Even during the long weekend in the last week of September, many locals and foreign tourists had to change their travel plans due to the adverse weather conditions,” Mr. Geeganage said, adding that many opted for the the East Coast, where fair weather prevailed. “The main reasons for travellers to arrive at the southern coast are ‘sun’ and ‘sea’. If these aren’t fulfilled, they sometimes post a bad review online,” he said.
In addition to the weather setback, some hoteliers are facing financial hurdles. The banks’ refusal to lower loan interest rates is another significant barrier for the sector, said Mr. Geeganage adding that “the loan repayment time period must be extended.”.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, the general manager of a well-known hotel in the Galle area said the hotel had received a low number of reservations in recent weeks. They were therefore finding it difficult to meet costs and expenses.
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