Shimla: The tourism industry is loosing summer Tourist season for conjectively second year due to outbreak of second layer of COVID 19. Recent advisory issued by the Government regarding carrying of 72 hours old covid negative report mandatory for tourists coming from seven heavy loaded states has completely stopped the inflow of tourists to Himachal. The financial health of Tourism industry stake holders is already in a bad shape due to complete closure of tourism units for seven to eight months last year.The industry was slowly heading towards revival due to free flow of tourists . The stakeholders were atleast getting some revenue to meet their expanses up to some extent .But the out break of second layer of Crona has broken the back bone of Tourism industry in Himachal. (ADVT2)
The tourism of himachal is seasonal and the major revenue generation upto 65% of the total revenue of the year comes in the summer season starting from 15 th march to 25thJuly.The tourists from Maharashtra and Gujarat contributes maximum occupancy for hotels in the month of March and April , which is slipped from the hands of the hoteliers. (ADVT5)
The hotel bussiness is perishable once the tourism unit loose the occupancy the revenue loss cannot be recovered the next day.It has become difficult for the stake holders to keep their units running due to shortage of funds. The100 % advance bookings are being cancelled.The recent advisory issued by the state government regarding mandatory carrying of negative crona report by the tourists coming from seven states completely stopped the inflow of tourists .Even the bussiness travelers coming from other states are not ready to provide their services due to mandatory requirement of negative report. (ADVT3)
we urge the government to do away the advisory issued to carry negative report.we further request the government to charge subsidised tariff for two years for water, property tax , garbage fee, and completely abolish demand charges and other fees charged from the hotel industry and give 75 % on bar fees to save the tourism industry which is already on a ventilator due to lack of funds required for day to day running expenses.There is a need to defer the repayments of EMI of loans for atleast six months without any penality to save loans slippage to NPA. (ADVT5)
We request the honorable chief minister to provide financial assistance to the Tourism Industry in the shape of OD/working capital limits through state cooperative banks without coletrol security at a nominal rate of interest because the second conjective main summer season is going to slip from the hands of the tourism stake holders.In case the financial help is not provided to the ailing tourism industry it will completely collapse which is contributing about 8 % of the GDP. Apart from this there will be a mass unemployment due to cut in employment by the tourism units. We urge the government to take up the matter with the central government to announce special financial package for himachal to cover above relief to the tourism industry of Himachal which is totally dependent on seasonal bussiness.more over we don't think the tourism industry will come on self dependece level for another two years. (ADVT4) (ADVT5)