SKHF urges CM to help hotel industry tide over crisis

The South Kerala Hoteliers’ Forum (SKHF) has urged the state government to advise departments like KSEB, KWA, tax departments and the Thiruvananthapuram corporation to grant hoteliers a deferred payment schedule that would give them relief for a minimum period of six months. With the corona virus spreading rapidly across the globe, the various hotels have been hit hard by cancellation of bookings.

SKHF has requested for a GST waiver for a one-year period, as a relief measure. The forum has also asked the government to instruct banks and other financial institutions like KFC and KSIDC to grant interest free moratorium for one year towards repayment of loans by the various tourism industry stakeholders.

In a letter written to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, SKHF president Chacko Paul said the tourism industry in Kerala had been very badly affected for the last three years due to floods and then the Nipah virus. The situation was changing for the better this year and everyone was optimistic about a revival. But unfortunately the corona virus has presented the industry with another setback.

“Even though the government is handling the situation most efficiently, our members are facing a grave situation due to cancellation of bookings,” Paul stated in the letter.

“As the phenomenon is global it may take a longer period for the situation to improve. We request your effective intervention towards the relief of Kerala’s tourism industry,” he added in his letter to the CM.