Hotel associations meet Maha tourism min for viable way out

The members of hotel industry met Maharashtra Tourism Minister Jayakumar Rawal and raised concern over the closure of restaurants, bars and hotels serving alcohol along the highways.
The delegations of Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) yesterday called on the minister to discuss the issue of liquor ban along the highways, said a release issued here.
"We discussed the impact of the liquor ban in Maharashtra, on people and tourism. We also presented an extensive report on the subject.
"The minister assured us that the government is working on a viable way out. After this meeting we are hopeful that a solution will be worked out," HRAWI President Dilip Datwani said.

The social impact of the ban is mammoth, he said adding that if a solution is not worked out many hotel owners will go bankrupt and several will be left jobless.
The Supreme Court in its recent order has banned sale of liquor within 500 metres of the national and state highways.