Dalhousie hoteliers seek tax exemptions

Balkrishan Prashar

Dalhousie, June 7

The Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Association, Dalhousie, has urged the government to waive interest for at least one year on the loans they have taken so that their units do not end up becoming sick. They pleaded that most of them have availed loans and will be able to earn bread and butter as and when tourism started and gathered pace. They said they did not expect tourism to pick up at least for another two years.

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

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

“Dalhousie looks deserted nowadays. We have some 200 taxis registered with unions, 15 travel agents, 20 different 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 them 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 hotel industry employees insurance scheme”, they suggested.

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

Caption: Dalhousie hill station (a view of Gandhi Chowk) looks deserted.