Chiranjeevi welcomes infrastructure status for hotels

The inclusion of hotels and convention centres in the harmonised master list of infrastructure sub-sector will provide a fillip to employment generation in the country, the Tourism Ministry today said.
According to the recent decision of the Finance Ministry, a hotel with a project cost of more than Rs 200 crore and of any star rating, and also a convention centre with a project cost of over Rs 300 crore will be considered as infrastructure project.
The decision was welcomed by Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi.
The facility will be applicable with prospective effects from the date of notification and available for eligible prospects for three years from the date of notification. Eligible costs exclude cost of land and lease charges but include interest during construction, a release said.

Tourism Ministry had been pursuing with the Finance Ministry for this for the benefit of hospitality industry and for employment generation in the country. Chiranjeevi had also earlier met Finance Minister P Chidambaram in this connection.
The inclusion of hotels and convention centres in the harmonised master list of infrastructure sub-sector will have an immediate effect on the overall economic development and will provide a fillip to employment generation in the country, the release said.
The inclusion of convention centres will also help to set-up niche products in tourism which have year-round business and therefore, would overcome the present bane of seasonality of Indian tourism.