MORE than 100 local businesses in Vanuatu have already signed the petition to support the call for a quick fixing of the runway and for a government assistance of value added tax exemption for three months from March 2016 to May 2016.

Businesses in the retail, restaurant, hotel and resort sectors are currently suffering from a lack of tourists visiting the country.

The Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) highlight in its newsletter that tourists by air are the main clients for most businesses.

However, VCCI says Fiji will not be affected by this in terms of export.

“The dollar from the tourists that usually trickles down to the communities at large is no longer there. Businesses are intending to close down,” VCCI said.

“Staff are being either laid off or placed on reduced hours of work. Everyone even the government revenues will be affected if the situation is prolonged.

“The activity that causes all these to occur is the International Airport Bauerfield Runway issue.

“The members of the business community would like your Government to give the fixing of the runway a top priority.

“By fixing the runway as quickly as possible will enable flights to resume their schedules thus bringing businesses back to normal.”

Since the runway issue has affected businesses for the last couple of months, it says members of the business community are requesting if the government could give them an incentive by way of VAT exemption from March to May 2016.

“Businesses are already affected therefore giving them a three-month VAT exemption will allow for some breathing space.”

VCCI submitted the petition to the Vanuatu Government on Friday March 18, 2016.

To get more support from local businesses of any business licence categories who wish to strongly support the local businesses severely impacted by the economic crisis caused by the International Bauerfield Airport runaway, VCCI is extending the signing of the petition to Friday April 1, 2016