Dalhousie hoteliers seek interest waiver, tax sops

Our Correspondent
Dalhousie, June 11

The Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Association, Dalhousie, has urged the government to waive interest on the loans they have taken so that their units do not end up becoming sick. They pleaded that most of them have availed of loans and would be able to earn bread and butter as and when tourism started and gathered pace. They said they did not expect this to happen any time soon.

In a statement issued to the media here, association president Narinder Puri and chief patron Manoj Chadha said endeavors to curb the spread of Covid had adversely hit the tourism industry which needed to be revived so that it got a second life.

“Being totally dependent on tourism, Himachal Pradesh is the worst sufferer following the Covid outbreak. Direct and indirect downsizing and layoffs have resulted in loss of over three lakh jobs within the state in a span of over 70 days due to the lockdown”, association office-bearers said.

“Dalhousie looks completely deserted nowadays. We have some 200 taxis registered with unions, 15 travel agents, 20 camping sites, horse and pony riders and a number of people who are entirely dependent on tourism”, they said; adding that around 160 hotels which had been completely shut.

“Despite all odds, the government can help us by exempting excise fee such as bar, licence and GST, restaurant operations fiscal fee, pollution control board fee, sanitary fee, garbage collection charges, etc, for a minimum period of one year”, they demanded.

“The government should provide insurance to hotel industry employees”, they demanded.

They said the Central government should announce a special tourism package for hill state hoteliers. “There is need to incentivise tourists visiting the states by providing some income tax relief on his travel and stay expenses,” they said.