CHAMBER OF TOURISM AND INDUSTRY PRESENTS SOLUTIONS TO INDUSTRY WOES
The Chamber of Tourism and Industry along with the domestic airline operators has brought forward issues confronting the domestic airline industry which hinder the promotion of tourism in the country.
The Chamber after having discussions with the airline operators has come forward with important suggestions for the consideration of the authorities.
President Chamber of Tourism and Industry A.m.jaufer said that it takes 8 to 12 hours to reach destinations in the North and East by road and for the tourist who arrive for a few days the travel time taken is too much to visit these areas. The best solution is to offer domestic air tickets at reasonable prices so that the local passengers also can make use of the facility.
In order to bring down the costs the domestic airlines, operators have come up suggestions such as the removal of taxes including vat on airtickets, removal of Customs duty and other taxes on aircraft spare parts or concession to be granted, free landing and parking to be granted in Jaffna, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara, removal of the 14 percent withholding tax on the lease rental, granting concessional fuel price for domestic operators, granting viability gap – 300 seats a day at US$ 100 – Request for 10 percent viability gap, facilities in airports to be upgraded to handle day/night flights, make available fuel for domestic airlines at all airports, including Air Force bases, The Digana airport (Kandy airport) to be completed and opened for civil aircrafts, including wheeled aircraft operation and regulations on pilot licences and engineer/technician licences such as Particular Aircraft Type Rating requirements to be relaxed and to allow all Single Engine Aircrafts to operate under one category of Licence as practiced by FAA-USA.
If we could resolve the above, the regional investment will boom and local business community will benefit and at the same time tourist travel itinerary in the country could be expanded.
The Chamber has presented its suggestions to the Prime Minister while expecting the legislators to discuss the matter during the Transport Ministry Vote in Parliament today.