There is a move by tourism authorities to enforce the controversial minimum room rate (MRR) implemented in the city of Colombo to the entire nation, said Chairman Island Leisure Chandana Amaradasa.(Pictured)
A veteran in the industry for over 30 years he said that this will negatively impact and kill the tourism industry.Amaradasa said that the MRR has already dealt a severe blow to the MICE industry as several large conference events scheduled to be held in Colombo were cancelled and shifted to other countries like Malaysia and Thailand. He also said that it should be the market forces that decide the rate and not a few aging travel sector association heads that should now retire and give the reins to the younger generation.
Amaradasa who brought several sports and MICE groups to Sri Lanka said that it was also strange to note that even when President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the last Hotels Association AGM condemned this, Sri Lanka tourism was trying to continue and expand it. He also said that the current vehicle fleet rotating in the tourism sector is aging and authorities should seriously look at opening up an avenue to bring down vehicles.
“Sri Lanka cannot look at attracting high end tourists offering them old vehicles. Without additional vehicles Sri Lanka will also face a major transport issue and the current vehicle strength would not be enough to transport anticipated higher numbers of arrivals.” Amaradasa also said that it was a timely move to delay the Parate execution until year end as it gave some breathing space for the industry.
“Authorities must now offer a low interest payment donor funding for the industry to pay back these loans.”
When contacted Chairman Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Thisum Jayasuriya said that there is a request by the industry itself to implement the MRR all over the country.Asked if it did have a negative impact on the MICE market he said it was too early to comment on it. “There are pros and cons to this.”
Shirajiv Sirimane