Federation of Hotel Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has urged the Central Government to provide with comprehensive relief package to the hospitality and tourism players operating in Uttarakhand affected in the natural calamity in the state.
"FHRAI makes an urgent appeal to the Union Government and financial institutions to formulate a comprehensive relief package for the state’s hospitality and tourism industry, in the form of loan waivers, tax exemptions and subsidies etc.
This will be vital to allow this key industry to cope with the adverse impact of this colossal tragedy and stand on its feet again” FHRAI Honorary Secretary Vijay Pande said.
A meeting with the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, to personally apprise him of the’ immediate concerns’ of the tourism industry in Uttarakhand and make a request for the Central Government’s support to help overcome the aftermath is as well i the pipeline affirmed Pande.
FHRAI has earlier expressed its complete solidarity with the Government and fellow citizens trapped in Uttarakhand. In order to assure the declining number of tourists of recurrence of ‘normalcy’ in the state FHRAI also promised of offering ‘every possible’ support and assistance to their members and the local authorities in relief and rehabilitation efforts.
The economy of Uttarakhand is heavily dependent on tourism as its mainstay.
This recent disaster and its continuing aftermath have proved to be a severe blow to the state’s hospitality and tourism industry, which comprises mostly of small and mid-sized establishments. On account of these incalculable losses, the sector faces a perilous future, which also threatens the livelihoods of lakhs of people.