In an announcement, the Kerala government informed that it has decided to defer the payment of fixed charges of electricity for six months for hotels and resorts as an immediate relief for the tourism industry. The announcement comes in the wake of tourism industry’s appeal for various reliefs and also a revival package as entrepreneurs and employees in the sector are facing worst-ever crisis.
In a message to the tourism industry, Rani George, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, said that the Department of Tourism has prepared a proposal with short-term, mid- term and long-term strategies and discussions were being held with relevant department’s consequent to requests from the industry for a revival package.
“One of the requests was the waiver of fixed charges for electricity and the Government of Kerala has decided to defer the payment of fixed charges for electricity for six months, which Pinarayi Vijayan, the Honourable Chief Minister, announced on Tuesday. Kadakampally Surendran, Honourable Minister for Tourism Cooperation and Dewasoms, had held a discussion with the Chairman of KSEB on the matter,” said George.
The tourism industry had requested for waiver of fixed charges, but as it was fixed charge for contracted demand, KSEB has to make this payment to the suppliers. “We have informed the KSEB that unlike industries, the recovery of hotels and resorts in the tourism industry will be delayed as it will take time for tourists’ arrivals. So we could request for an option for instalments for the deferred payment of fixed charges,” the tourism secretary said.
Besides for soft loans for the employees and other loan schemes, the Minister has held discussions with KSCB and schemes are being worked out. The other components in the proposal which the government would address are also under discussion.” George said.
The tourism secretary has hoped that the industry would tide over the ongoing crisis with the public-private partnership and focused marketing strategies that had been the success model of Kerala tourism.
