As the local tourism sector is expected to recover only around April 2022, the tourism industry has requested the Government to waive off interest payments on loans for two years beginning April 2020. The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) President Sanath Ukwatte told The Sunday Morning Business on Thursday (3) that the Government is yet to take a decision on this request. Hotel occupancy rates picked up gradually to about 20% in August and September mainly due to local tourists. Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is among the top three foreign exchange-earning sources of the country. Tourism arrivals had been gradually recovering after the Easter attacks last year and the reported arrivals into the country stood at 1.9 million in 2019, compared to 2.3 million in 2018.

Source: The Nation December 06, 2020 04:52 UTC