The Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) has requested the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to relook at the tourism sector for its survival which engages more than 5 crore people and has potential of doubling the employment and can be the driving force of the Indian economy.
In a letter written to Prime Minister Modi, J K Mohanty, Chairman, Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO), has expressed his displeasure over the total ignorance of the tourism, travel and hospitality sector from Centre’s bailout packages.
“The hotel industry which is highly capital intensive is only asking for a minimum of 1 year moratorium on all working capital, principal, interest payments, loans and overdrafts and Soft loan at concessional rate of interest upto 4 years for hotel industry which will help them sustain and revive. Further, enable hotels to collect GST / SGST and use the same as Working Capital for next six months,” Mohanty stated in the letter adding that the tourism industry has been worst affected and will remain affected even for about six months after the lockdown is declared open.
He opined that travelers will not travel due to scare of the infectious disease and hotel rooms will remain empty for a long time. “Empty rooms mean huge business loss and repayment of EMIs to the banks and financial institutions, payment of salary to staff & other statutory dues will become impossible. Hon’ble Prime Minister had declared that if every Indians visits 15 domestic tourist destinations there would be huge demand for hotels and other services in the tourism sector. The hospitality and tourism sector had always looked upon the Government and was expecting the financial bailout package from the announcements made by the Hon’ble Finance Minister,” Mohanty added.
