The six month moratorium on leasing rentals of all tourist transport vehicles has been extended by another six months without any delayed charges.
Industrial Exports and Investment Promotion, Tourism and Aviation Minister Prasanna Ranatunge said this relief has been given following the government’s decision to offer a series of concessions, tax relief and debt moratorium to the tourism industry battered badly by the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister said around 2,500 applications were received from tourist guides and drivers of tourist transport services so far under the programme for relief.The government has granted relief including five-year loans with a two-year grace period at four percent interest to registered hotels to pay salaries for employees, a one-off payment of Rs. 20,000 to registered guides, a one-off payment of Rs.15,000 for tour drivers and payments of electricity and water bills for the March-August period to be made from September 1 in 12 equal payments were approved,” he said.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) will provide a grant of 3.5 million euros (Rs. 728 million) to boost Sri Lanka’s tourism industry hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary relevant proposals have already been sent to the EU now,” he said.
Add new comment