The Kerala hotel industry has welcomed the implementation of smoke-free rules. Even as the industry expects short-term losses, in the long run, it would result in better public health, said D Chandrasenan Nair, veteran hotel industry leader and General Convenor of South Kerala Hoteliers Forum.
"By making our hotels and restaurants smoke-free, we are hopeful of attracting greater number of non-smokers including women and children," he said at a press conference today to announce Kerala hotel industry's commitment to implement the provisions of Section 4 of Indian tobacco control law, COTPA, 2003.
G Sudhiesh Kumar, state president of the 20,000-member-strong Kerala Hotels and Restaurants Association (KHRA) said the decision to implement smoke-free rules was unanimously approved at the annual general meeting of the association that met at Kochi recently.
"We realise that this endeavour is not easy especially in bar hotels, but we are going ahead with the decision to protect non-smokers. The provisions of law will be implemented in a phased manner," he added.
