Hotels hurled a double whammy
Prior to the recent outbreak, hotels and resorts were happy with weekends getting packed with Sri Lankans.
Now even the guests that arrived during the weekdays like those staying over while travelling on official work or even the meetings have now dwindled to zero, Mr. Cooray explained. Previously they used to have about 15- 20 per cent occupancy on weekdays.
Weddings are also restricted to the immediate family as a result it has taken a toll on the hotels, he noted.
The Jetwing Group which has given out six of its hotels for quarantine purposes is now having no stays as repatriation flights have stopped since the recent outbreak, he said.
However, hoteliers believe there is a social and psychological cost involved in this entire lockdown process as it is impacting on livelihoods immensely.
Connaissance De Ceylan Chairman Chandra Wickramasinghe said that resorts are facing postponements as people are asked not to travel and as a result business has come to a close and nothing coming into the hotels.
He also noted that they had obtained the first working capital loan but now they are yet to receive the second loan and even the loan for the payment of electricity bills is being worked out.
Industry officials blamed the medical fraternity for not taking into account any concern of the economic cost to the country as it is a disease that could be managed without imposing sudden lockdowns. “There should be some consideration about the eco
Industry officials blamed the medical fraternity for not taking into account any concern of the economic cost to the country as it is a disease that could be managed without imposing sudden lockdowns. “There should be some consideration about the economic cost without randomly locking down areas,” one official said.
nomic cost without randomly locking down areas,” one official said.
But overall hoteliers are not looking at the winter season which in previous years was the most wonderful time of the year with hotels gearing up for the holiday season and the Christmas novelty.
This year is going to be dull with nothing on the cards as the latest outbreak has dampened spirits and scared off guests from year end gatherings!
NKar Travels Managing Director Nilmin Nanayakkara pointed out that under the circumstances “it’s a matter of trying to survive” and added that: “I only hope all my colleagues will survive.”
He noted that at present maintaining less numbers in the country is most important and preventing the spread of the coronavirus is crucial.
City Hotels Association President M. Shanthikumar said that city hotels remained opened but were operating on a small scale with few patronizing the hotels.
He said that there has been a drastic drop in the number of visitors to the bars and restaurants of the hotels with all functions postponed.