‘Is space programme more important than tourism?’: FHRAI

The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has criticised the stimulus package announced by the government, completing ignoring the concerns of the hospitality sector.

“I am really shocked that tourism and hospitality was completely ignored despite PM Modi mentioning hospitality as one of the five pillars in his speech. We don’t know what was the criteria of importance. Is space programme more important than tourism? We had made 20 representations to the Department of Tourism and Ministry of tourism but not even one has been considered,” said Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice-President, FHRAI (Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India).

The tourism industry was looking forward to a deep set of survival measures for the sector from the Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package. It has already seen over one quarter of accumulated losses, which began from February onwards.

All tourism service providers, the hotels, travel agents, tour operators, tourist transporters, restaurants, guides will be hit hard, making most tourism businesses unviable on a cash operating basis, Kohli said.