HOTEL INDUSTRY WELCOMES MINISTRY’S CLASSIFICATION GUIDELINES

In what can be called an epic move, the Ministry for Tourism (MoT) announced certain revisions for the hotel industry that the industry sees as a first of many more to come as envisioned by the Prime Minister for the revival of tourism in India. The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has welcomed the provisions while congratulating its members for the efforts put in over the years, in voicing out the industry’s concerns.

The Minister of Tourism and Culture Shripad Yesso Naik announced two major revisions in the guidelines for the classification of hotels - Simplified the hotel classification and re-classification procedure by not seeking re-presentation / submission of the licenses and clearances which are already issued to them by various Local, State and Central Government authorities for operation of hotels; and Classifying 4-Star, 5-Star hotels in non-heritage sector and classic category hotels in heritage sector without insisting on the presence of a bar that serves alcohol on the premises.

“Henceforth, at the time of classification/reclassification, hotels will only be required to furnish a current and valid Trade license and Bar license, if applicable.  Prior to this announcement, it was mandatory for the applicants to submit all the licenses and clearances including the land utilisation certificate, building completion certificate, coastal zone regulation clearance, forest and environment clearance, pollution control clearance, police clearance, fire safety clearance, airport authority clearance, health and sanitation clearance. The procedure has been simplified by eliminating the need to submit multiple documents,” explained D.S. Advani, President, HRAWI.

“The announcement has come at a time when the hotel industry had begun to feel that bureaucracy was eating into a lot of its time and efforts that could be better invested in improving services. These announcements coming from the ministry have provided hoteliers with the much needed affirmation that the industry will see a change in the government working model. We are jubilant with the developments and are excited to know that there may be more in the pipeline. We wish to thank the government for providing us with the hope that starting with this simplification exercise. The new government shall tread towards a facilitator role from a regulatory role, bringing in the much needed dis-banning of archaic rules, regulations and licensing to usher in the new era of tourism growth in India,” said Kamlesh Barot, immediate past President, HRAWI.