The All Himachal Association of Hospitality and Tourism Forum has welcomed the electricity subsidies given by the State government to the tourism industry. Also they thanked government for discounts in bar license fees and rules. https://himscape.dxpsites.net/relief-for-hp-tourism-industry/
“AHAHAT FORUM heartily thanks the Honorable Chief Minister Shri Jai Ram Thakur on behalf of all 18 Associations of the state” stated Mohinder Seth of the forum.
He further stated that the tourism industry of Himachal has been the most affected due to COVID 19. Adding that until Corona vaccine is introduced tourists will avoid traveling, which means that the industry will not recover anytime soon, he stressed . Moreover the states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi etc. from where tourists come to visit Himachal are highly affected by the virus. It will take at least 12 to 18 months for the tourism industry to start again, he added.He said that the the main season of this year has already been completely eroded. It was the period on which the sustainability of tourism units of the state is totally dependent, he informed. Moreover fixed expenditures of hotels and other tourism units are the highest among other industries irrespective of whether the hotel has occupancy or not. “We hope that other reliefs sought by the forum like surcharge on water bills, exemption in property tax, loans at subsidized rates and financial package to sustain staff till hotels re-open,” shall also be considered by the stated government,” urged Seth.Â
Tourism industry contributes 7% to the state GDP. All tourism stakeholders like hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, adventure/water sports/rope ways/taxi operators, tourist guides and photographers and more are the worst hit due to the pandemic.
