In a desperate move to tackle the present Covid-19 situation, country’s hard-hit tourism and hospitality industry has sought Tk 3000 crore interest-free loans for the next three years.
Besides, in the upcoming national budget 2020-21, the industry people have sought enough allocation for hotel, motel, resorts, all category of restaurants, all tour operator, travel agencies, tourist vehicle and vessel, and private airlines.
At the same time, it demanded allocate fund of Tk 500 crore for overseas promotion and product development just after the crisis and waiver of utility bills until resumption of operation and reduced income tax for establishments and employees for at least two years.
The demand was made in a statement issued by Shahid Hamid FIH, Executive Board Member, PATA Global & Chairman; PATA Bangladesh Chapter recently.
The statement read, Covid -19 pandemic has had an unprecedented effect on all walks of life throughout the globe. The travel and tourism industry has not been spared. In fact, the industry is facing one of the most critical periods that will take long time to recover.
UNWTO has revised its 2020 prospects for international tourist arrivals to a negative growth 1 percent to 3 percent, translating into an estimated loss of US$ 30 to 50 billion in international tourism receipts. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, UNWTO predicted a positive growth of 3 percent to 4 percent for this year.
The prospects look glimmer as the battle against COVID-19 continues and experts predict a long recovery time. “As you know Bangladesh tourism industry is not much publicized in overseas market but millions of people are involved in it. About 10 million domestic tourist travels where the turnover is around 250 billion dollar a year.
Hundreds of travel and tour companies will close, and a significant number of small hotel motel, resorts, restaurant will be shut down, thousands of people will be jobless just after COVID -19 effect,” it was feared in the statement.
Some of these establishments have already shut down and the rest are on verge of shutting down. As per random calculation in tourism business turnover losses are around 10 thousand crore and jobless will be over 3 lakh by the end of June, 2020, it added.
PATA made an appeal to all owners of various establishments within the industry to retain as many staff as possible even if on a reduced salary so they are not jobless and also give an assurance to those who lose jobs to be hired back once operations are resumed. Senior members of management need to step forward and help and assist their subordinates the best they can, it added.