To give an immediate relief for the tourism industry, the Kerala government has informed that it has decided to defer the payment of fixed charges of electricity for six months for hotels and resorts. The announcement comes following tourism industry’s appeal for various reliefs and also a revival package as entrepreneurs and employees in the sector are facing worst-ever crisis.
Secretary, Kerala Tourism, Rani George, in a reply to the tourism industry 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 this week. 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.
The tourism secretary is optimistic about the industry that would tide over the ongoing crisis with the public-private partnership and focused marketing strategies that had been the success model of Kerala tourism.
