MRR remains contentious issue within industry
Sri Lanka Tourism authorities were upbeat on Wednesday about the imposition of the Minimum Room Rate (MRR) and the revenue earned as a result of it; but the DMCs were a sad lot insisting that policies should benefit the entire industry and not just the hoteliers.
The matter is before courts and the case will come up again on March 14.
Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators President Nishad Wijetunga said at the media launch of the Sancharaka Udawa (tourism fair) this week that MRR has been beneficial to hotel staff and hotels alone.
He explained that bookings were made based on prices quoted previously but that the MRR was imposed later and as a result they stand to lose.
The entire city has to benefit and not just one sector of the industry, he said. Majority of the bookings were based on rates before the MRR was effective.
Sri Lanka Association of Professional Conference Events Organisation President Imran Hassan said the Indian market was impacted as some groups moved to Thailand as a result of the MRR. He also explained that some groups that travel regularly opted for low priced accommodation due to the high rates.
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu said that it was good to see the hotels performing well as a result of the MRR becoming effective.
This year the event will be held on May 17/18 for the 11th time and will host over 250 exhibitors with an expectation of generating over 10, 000 visitors.
The event aims to establish a networking platform for small and medium sized service providers within the industry, facilitating connections with tour operators and facilitating their integration into the broader tourism landscape.
Another interesting feature at this year’s exhibition will be the presence of the Northern Province Tourism Association.
Hitad.lk has you covered with quality used or brand new cars for sale that are budget friendly yet reliable! Now is the time to sell your old ride for something more attractive to today's modern automotive market demands. Browse through our selection of affordable options now on Hitad.lk before deciding on what will work best for you!