Uttarakhand to beef up security for tourists

The Uttarakhand government has decided to take steps to beef up security and instill confidence among tourists in the wake of the terrorist strikes in Mumbai which claimed over 180 lives and left more than 300 injured.

A delegation of the state hotel industry yesterday called on state Tourism Minister Prakash Pant here and expressed concern over the attacks on the Taj Mahal and Oberoi-Trident hotels in Mumbai which they said have created a sense of fear among the tourists, especially the foreigners.

Stating that the incident came at a time when the hotel industry was reeling under the pressure of the global financial crisis, the hoteliers said the occupancy rate in various hotels in Uttarakhand, known for its scenic beauty, has already come down by 30 to 40 per cent.

Significantly, tourism sector is considered to be the backbone of the hill state’s economy.

The delegation was led by Uttarakhand Hotel Association President SP Kochar.

“We took up all the issues concerning the hotel industry in Uttarakhand,” Kochar told Business Standard. The delegation also demanded some tax concessions from the government.

Significantly, the meeting between the hotel industry owners and the tourism minister came amid reports that scores of foreign tourists have cancelled their trips to Uttarakhand and other parts of the country.

“We cannot tell you the exact number of cancellations in this regard. But certainly, various foreign trips to Uttarakhand have been cancelled,” Kochar informed.

When contacted, Pant said he has assured the hotel industry that the government would take necessary steps to safeguard the interests of the hotel industry.