Kullu-Manali hoteliers seek govt aid

Mandi, May 2

The hotel industry of Kullu and Manali is on the verge of collapse because of the second wave of Covid-19. Room occupancy in hotels has reduced to below five per cent these days.

As per hoteliers, around 15 per cent hotels have shut down voluntarily in Kullu district because of the sharp decline in tourist arrival.

Similarly, hoteliers of Mandi and Lahaul and Spiti districts are also facing losses. They all are demanding a relief package from the state government to cope up with the current situation.

Anup Thakur, president of the Manali Hoteliers Association, said, “We urge the state government to waive demand charges of electricity for one year and issue electricity bills to hoteliers at domestic rates. There was zero occupancy in hotels of Kullu and Manali in the past two weeks. In such a critical situation, the government should rescue the hotel industry, which is now on the verge of collapse,” he added.

“We also request the government to waive the installments of bank loans of hoteliers for one year without interest. It will be a huge relief for us,” he added.

Munish Sood, president of Mandi Hoteliers Association, said that the state and Central governments should give some relief package to the hotel industry to cope with the current crisis. — TNS