The Chamber of Tourism & Industry has requested relief for small and medium stakeholders in the hotel industry in the backdrop of Sunday terrorist attacks in which the tourism industry has been severely affected.
The chamber points out that the small and medium stakeholders in the industry, such as internal airlines, cabs , taxi and three-wheel drivers, (popular tuk-tuk service) tour guides , small vegetable and fish suppliers to the hotels and restaurants. small shop owners, surfing board suppliers and supporting labour helpers and material suppliers to the construction industry in the hotel sector, tour operators and those engaged in the sale of gem and jewellery to tourists, etc. were the immediate affected people.
In addition to the above, small staff of hotels were also suffering due to this unfortunate situation since they have lost avenues of making additional income from guest service charges, tips etc. During the tourism season, more tourists visit the Pasikudah, Arugambay, Nilaweli areas in the eastern province.
The chamber therefore requests for stable institutional support and recognition of the contribution they were making to the industry in order to sustain the country’s economy and also generate more employment within the industry.
The chamber urges that some mechanism should be implemented to either waive off the loan taken through the banks or similar relief such as reduced interests and opportunities to apply for loans in order to uplift the standard of the stake holders who engage in small and medium scale business in the tourism sector, such as financial assistance and support.
It also requests the waiver of the tsunami loan scheme provided under the ETB credit line especially because this loan was given to mostly tourism sector enterprise. The chamber also appreciated the security provided by the Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air force, Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Police Department and Special Task Force.
0 comments: