Tourism Meet Turns Awkward For Govt Officials

Removal of dual tariff system in hotels and government apathy towards tourism-related projects spelt trouble for government officials at a seminar on tourism and investment, held recently. Participants lambasted the government for not having laid down policies for investment and development in the sector.

The seminar was organised by CII in association with the department of tourism as part of India Tourism Week.

NRI Ashok Taneja, who has invested over one million dollars in a Kumaon resort, said corruption was so rampant that he had been unable to get even some basic facilities. The junior engineer there is demanding a Rs 25,000 bribe for sanctioning a water or electricity connection. What do I do? he asked.

 

The discomfort of tourism department director general Ashok Pradhan and tourism secretary M P Bezbaruah was apparent at the meet.

The ministrys role is restricted to that of co-ordination sans any power of prosecution. We have noted down your problem and will get back to the Uttar Pradesh government, Pradhan tried to assure Taneja.

Feedback Ventures Pvt Ltd chief executive Gopal N Sarma said the growth rate of tourist arrivals had come down to 3.5 per cent in 1997 from 8 per cent in 1996. There is a need for immediate intervention along all links of the tourism value chain, he added.

Bezbaruah called for an integrated approach with the involvement of private and public sector to give a fillip to the tourism industry in India.

Saying the tourism sector alone consists of 36 sectors, including tourism infrastructure, tourism development and hospitality, Bezbaruah gave vent to his disapproval on single window clearance for tourism-related projects, as every project had different parameters.

Referring to the dual tariff system, he said with both the government and hoteliers adamant on their stand on dual tariff system in hotels, a confrontation seemed inevitable, he said.

The department had issued a notification on December 22 asking hotels to remove the dual tariff system and have either rupee or dollar denominated tariff.

It is a free country, anybody can go to the court, director general Pradhan said when told that hoteliers plan to move the court after the January 31 deadline. Two hotel bodies FHRAI and HAI have sought legal counsel on the matter and are said to be waiting for the deadline to pass before they petition the court.