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| Sunday, 11 May 2003 |
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Lankan tourism could benefit from SARS - Lokuge by E. Weerapperuma While tourism in the Asian region has suffered setbacks due to the war in Iraq, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and, as a result, a reduction in the number of flights to the region, Sri Lanka stands to benefit, thanks to the timely action to keep watch over the flights coming from SARS-affected countries. According to Tourism Minister Gamini Lokuge, tourists from the West flying to countries like China and Thailand, now come to Sri Lanka due to the outbreak of SARS in those countries. "We had a 20 to 25 per cent increase in tourist arrivals during the past few weeks", the Minister said. He told the Sunday Observer that approval will not be given to construct new hotels or rest houses in the North and East until peace was achieved in the country. But all necessary help and financial support will be given to renovate hotels and rest houses which have existed since the tourism trade was introduced here. The Government will provide loans from five million rupees to Rs 50 million to those seeking such assistance. "The loans will be given at a two per cent interest rate with a five-year grace period. They are expected to be settled within 10 years", the Minister said. Speaking about tourist arrivals within the past three months, he said Sri Lanka had been able to achieve its target and expressed confidence that the country would have over 550,000 tourists this year. "That is our target and we are confident that we will be able to reach it", he said. He added that while tourists from the West visit the island due to them being unable to go to the countries they had originally planned to visit, due to the SARS threat, Sri Lanka has lost many tourists from China. "We expected 25 to 40 per cent more tourists from China this year. But now they will not come. The tourist season will begin in July and we are yet to receive hotel bookings", he said. Minister Lokuge also said that steps would be taken to develop tourist attractions. What the Government expects is to see tourists spending a lot of their money while holidaying here. "To attract tourists, we must have something to offer them. We must have places of interest and day and night activities to get them involved. For this, we have to improve our infrastructure. We welcome private sector participation in this regard", he added. |
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