Hoteliers in the State have restated their request for the hospitality sector to be granted industry status. In a meeting with Tourism Minister R.K. Roja. Representatives from the Andhra Pradesh Hoteliers’ Association, including R.V. Swamy, President of Vijayawada Hotel Owners’ Association, Mr. P.V. Ramana, former President, Mr. P. Ravi, Treasurer Mallikarjuna, and others, expressed their gratitude to the government for allowing eateries in the State to operate until midnight. However, they also brought to her attention the issue of some places where the police department was still imposing restrictions. Mr. Swamy mentioned that they had already communicated this concern to the Director-General of Police, who assured them of necessary actions.
Emphasizing that the hospitality sector employed a significant number of unskilled and uneducated individuals, second only to the MSME sector, they argued that granting industry status would help hoteliers survive the current crisis and establish new hotels in the State.
Andhra Pradesh Hotels Association (APHA) has requested the state government to permit hotels to function till midnight. The association alleged police were refusing to enforce the GO 25 issued in 2022 about relaxing the timings
RK Swamy, president of APHA, said, “The hospitality industry can flourish with the government’s support. We are requesting the government to identify us as an industry. Government should reduce the GST on room tariffs. Similarly, ate night hours are important peak hours for hotel business. We request the government to direct DGP and commissioners of police to implement the GO in good faith and permit us to function till midnight.”
The hoteliers also requested the government to start hotel management courses at universities and government degree colleges to overcome the shortage of skilled workforce in the hospitality sector.
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