Recovery: The tourism industry which suffered a devastating blow at the hands of the tsunami two years ago has made a complete recovery, writes Shirajiv Sirimane, Daily News 291206 at http://www.dailynews.lk/.

RE-OPENED: Kosgoda Beach Hotel which was destroyed by the tsunami was re-opened recently and the property with 40 rooms has now been upgraded to a luxury resort.

More than 1000 hotels were damaged with some hotels being completely washed off in the tsunami that struck the island on December 26, 2004. All the hotels except two hotels have been completely refurbished and rebuilt and already reopened. Some hotels have been opened after being re-branded and three more hotels are to be opened early next year.

Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism Dr. P. Ramanujam said that this recovery is highly commendable and this is a clear sign that the industry is moving ahead. He said that soon after the tsunami the Government took a decision to offer loan facilities to affected hoteliers and this was a blessing in disguise for them. "We have provided loans to the tune of Rs. 900 million so far to rebuild tsunami affected hotels," he said.

The Secretary said that in addition the Government also offered duty free facilities for the importation of vehicles and other equipment for the tsunami affected hoteliers and this too helped the industry to re bound.

In addition a series of advertising campaigns were launched along with special airline offers from the national carrier, SriLankan, which helped the industry to attract tourists. "The special slogan put forward by the Ministry, titled 'Spend your money in Sri Lanka and help the nation' too was very successful," he said.

The Secretary said that one year after the tsunami the industry has fully recovered with hotels being rebuilt and the tourists coming.

However he admitted that though today there is complete security for visitors, tourists are not being targeted and the European arrivals have dipped. "The main reason for this is the adverse travel advisories still being maintained by some European countries. We are now working to take these advisories off," he said.

"However we are now concerned about the dip in arrivals and action should be taken to take off the adverse travel advisories imposed on Sri Lanka by Germany, France, Holland and Italy," he said.

Vice President, Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, (THASL) Srilal Miththapala too endorsed this and said that this is an issue that needs urgent attention.

"The acting Minister is keen to settle this issue and the hoteliers too are planning to make representations to meet some of the ambassadors in these countries soon.

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