Kerala Tourism's Loan Assistance Scheme Receives Good Response

KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER

ISSUE: 326

OCTOBER 2020

The Chief Minister's Tourism Loan Assistance Scheme (CMTLAS) of Kerala Tourism is receiving a good response from the stakeholders. Registrations for the relief scheme crossed 1,000 within a short period of time.

Tourism Secretary Ms. Rani George said that the government has taken a very proactive step to support the stakeholders in the tourism industry by initiating schemes for the survival and revival of the sector. "A slew of measures was taken and the most important ones among them were the Tourism Working Capital Assistance Scheme and the Tourism Employment Support Scheme for the employers and employees respectively, with interest subvention from the government. Schemes to provide financial assistance for the maintenance of the houseboats and a one-time financial assistance to the licensed guides in the sector are also effective in supporting the sector," said Ms Rani George.

The move has been welcomed by the tourism industry stakeholders as it can help the sector survive and recover from the COVID-19 crisis. "Tourism is the biggest employment industry in the world and ever since COVID-19 hit, a significant workforce has been rendered jobless. Some form of relief measure was necessary to help the industry, and the government's move to provide soft loans at lower interest rates has offered much relief to those working in the tourism sector. This is the first time a state has taken such a stance, and that will go a long way in helping the sector tide over the crisis," said Mr E. M. Najeeb, President, Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry (CKTI).