Industry needs urgent attention

Hotel Association of India (HAI) has urged the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Finance to understand the plight of the hospitality industry and decide on what they need. He says that their advocacy is only that the government give a comprehensive package instead of small things happening here and there.

Nisha Verma

MP Bezbaruah, Secretary General, HAI, shared that the association has written to the Prime Minister office and the Finance Minister. “We have been trying with the PM Office and the FM to focus on a few issues, which the industry has been asking for and we are also in touch with all other sister organisations to see that we have a convergence of views on what we need as an industry. Hence, we are trying to help the MOF and MOT to focus on what the industry is suffering from,” he said.

Talking about how the situation has been handled by the government and how they are working with members during this time, Bezbaruah said, “So far as we are concerned, we are telling our members the situation on the ground, in terms of what has been happening because of COVID. We have also been sharing with them the views on the global community about how tourism is likely to come back and when. How, everything will depend from country to country, to be different. The general perception in February was quite different from what it is now. In Jan-Feb, people were very optimistic, hotel bookings were picking up, and things were happening. However, suddenly the second wave has come and there is fear of the third wave. The industry has been sensitised from our side. The important fact is that confidence will be the most important factor in the revival. It is not only that the government is putting COVID health protocols, but it is also the industry being able to convince the travellers and the customers that they are safe and that they are well looked after from health and safety point of view. Hence, that’s the strongest message at this moment.”

He added that the other message is that we must increasingly go for sustainability. “We have to change our way of working to make it a more efficient place. Apart from all the problems that they have, they are very genuinely concerned about the lives and livelihoods of the people who are dependent on them. Most of the industry is trying to hold on without retrenching people, but there is a capacity up to which they can hold on. The smaller ones and medium enterprises cannot. Hence, these are the protocols and problems we are sharing with the industry, trying to give them comfort to any extent possible from our side. We are trying to do advocacy with the Government to do something and that’s how we are helping,” shared Bezbaruah.

He claimed that it’s a very difficult situation and one cannot have the last word anywhere. “Anything you do is so uncertain today, and the government holds the primary responsibility for the lives of people. However, the PM and the FM in the budget have said that they are aware about the livelihood concerns also. The PM is very sensible, and hence he has said that we’ll not go for lockdown. Naturally, we are concerned about our own survival. Hence, one must see that the industry doesn’t become sick and they should be allowed to function while observing all operating procedures. MOT is also in touch with other ministries to provide small help like deferment of taxes etc. Some states have even given industry status that will give some benefit and lessen the burden. Giving the infrastructure status would encourage investments. These things are happening slowly. Our advocacy is only that the government should give a comprehensive package instead of small things happening here and there. Hence, it’s time to have a comprehensive package in consultation with the industry,” he suggested.