Coronavirus in Kerala: Hoteliers grapple with virus impact, staff sent on leave

KOCHI: The increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the state and subsequent restrictions have hit the tourism industry hard.
After registering a robust growth in 2019, several restaurants and hoteliers are now staring at closure, and resorting to drastic steps for reducing costs.
While some hotels have sent their staff on forced holiday for a month or two without pay, others have cut the salaries of their staff by half and forced them to go on leave.
A few five-star resorts have asked their staff to go on paid leave so that they can save on food bills, electricity and other costs.
There are approximately 5,000 rooms and around 150 approved tour operators in the state. They employ around 20 lakh people. Now, almost 50% staff has been asked to go leave, some with pay or pay cut and others without a salary.
The only promise that they have been given is that once the situation normalizes, they can return to work.
"When the tourism industry has come to a standstill, how will we survive and pay salaries to our staff? Almost 50% of our employees have been affected. If the situation doesn't improve, we stare at job cuts and even closure," EM Najeeb, president, Indian Association of Tour Operators (Kerala chapter), said.
"The tourism industry has been going through tough times. There is no work, no money. Reimbursement on cancellations and salary payments are major issues. As a result, many have no option but to send their staff on leave," said Mathew Philip, CEO, Kerala Travel Mart Society.
The state had attracted around 1.96 crore domestic and foreign visitors in 2019, registering the highest growth rate in domestic and total tourist arrivals in 24 years. But in the last two weeks, tourism inflow has declined considerably. Also, after an Italian national at Varkala tested positive for Covid-19, the government has asked all hotels to ensure that all foreign nationals at hotels remain quarantined for 14 days from the dates of their arrivals.
"Tourism inflow has reduced considerably. Restaurants and banquets have been hit hard. It may take a while for us to recover," said Riaz Ahmed, managing director, Abad Hotels.