Tourism sector content with stimulus package

Anjana SAMARASINGHE

Stakeholders in the tourism industry welcome concessions granted through the economic stimulus package unveiled by the Government recently.

Under the economic stimulus package there will be a concessionary loan scheme for tourist hotels, rescheduling of existing loans by granting extensions for repayment and reducing interest rates, remove interest rates on penalty of the loans taken by tourist hotels and the removal of the 15 per cent surcharge on electricity for all tourist hotels.

Speaking to Daily News Business President of Tourist Hotel's Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) Srilal Miththapala said as hoteliers they were happy about the initiative taken by the Government through the economic stimulus package.

"We are happy to receive this kind of help from the Government at a time like this. However still we have not got intimations on the concessions that the industry will get through this economic stimulus package," Miththapala said.

"Industry is still unaware that these moratoriums is on capital loans or the interest rates. These concessions will help in our cash flows," he said.

President of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) Chandra Wickramasinghe said this is a good initiative taken by the Government and this will boost the tourism industry.

"Tour operators play a pivotal role in the industry and there should be some concessions for tour operators too.

"Tour operators bring foreign exchange to the country. Removal of the 15 per cent surcharge on electricity for all tourist hotels is a most welcome initiative by the industry," he said.

Decline of the petrol and diesel prices too help the tourism industry, he added.

With the global recession and adverse travel advisories against Sri Lanka, there has a been a decline in European arrivals to Sri Lanka for the current winter season.

This has resulted in a drop of revenue to the leisure industry.