Tourism will soon regain its bounce

 
Minister of Industries, Investment Promotion and Tourism Anura Bandaranaike said that investors who have made commitments to invest in Sri Lanka before the Tsunami would be allowed to go ahead with their proposals.
"The proposed 100 meter buffer zone would not have any negative implication on these investors who had already received BOI approval," he said.
The Minister who unveiled the new 'Bounce back Sri Lanka' plans to revive the Tourist industry, said that he would be submitting a Cabinet Memorandum next week requesting flexibility in the matter.
The Minister said hotels close to the beach and were partly damaged too would be allowed to continue. "Though Sri Lanka has many properties away from the coast, tourists still prefer to visit the hotels on the coastal belt and this is one reason we want to have flexibility on this 100 meter proposal," he said.
The Minister said he would also forward a Cabinet memorandum to provide duty free concessions for the import of vehicles for the industry and equipment. However this equipment should not be manufactured in Sri Lanka.

"Soft loans for restructuring the damaged hotels and extension of time limit for repayment of loans obtained by those in the tourism trade are some of the other proposals due to be submitted to the Cabinet," he said.
The Minister said he would also make arrangements for the payment of an allowance for about three months to employees in the tourism sector until the industry is restored.
'Bounce Back Sri Lanka', the US$320 million campaign combines international marketing and promotion of the unique tourism attractions unaffected by the tsunami with a rehabilitation and reconstruction program designed to fast-track the development and world-class tourism facilities.