KUMAAR HOLIDAYS
No. 42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road,
Valasaravakkam, Chennai-87
Cell: 7810986933 / 7810896933 / 9600076933
E-mail:kumaarholidays1@gmail.com
www.kumaarholidays.com
After the news of impending prohibition, God's Own Country is counting
its losses: the state could lose a hefty chunk of its around
Rs23,000-crore annual tourism
revenues even as tour operators, preparing for the busy winter season,
are at their wits' end, wondering how to break the news to their
clients.
"It will be difficult to explain this. We are expecting some
cancellations," says a tour operator, who does large international group
bookings for Kerala. The Congress-led United Democratic Front
government, after a long meeting at the chief minister's official
residence on Thursday, proposed to make Kerala alcohol-free in 10 years.
About 15% of all foreign tourists coming into India checked into Kerala, which translated into total revenues, both direct and indirect, of around Rs23,000 crore in 2013. Online travel agencies say it will also impact domestic travel to Kerala and many people planning a winter trip to the destination might now change their plans. A lot of corporate conferences that are planned in Kerala may also be shifted elsewhere. Domestic tourists to the state stood at 1.08 crore in 2013, while there were over 8.58 lakh foreigners who visited Kerala last year.
Crist Inman, executive director, Raxa Collective, the management arm of Muthoot Leisure and Hospitality, says the state's current restrictions on alcohol sales are worrying hoteliers. "Right now, we have a beer and wine licence at one of our properties — Cardamom County in Thekkady — and the challenge of maintaining that licence combined with the monopoly-cost of product is already so high. If the restrictions get tighter and if the state goes dry, Kerala would lose tourism as an important source of value-add to the economy," he says.
The ministry of tourism has proposed that 4 and 5-star hotels in the state need not necessarily have a bar that serves alcohol on the premises. Tourism minister Shripad Naik said 5 and 4 star hotels can now be classified as star hotels with or without alcohol. But the hotels must make it clear on their websites about the services they provide.
Under the guidelines of the tourism ministry, till now, alcohol was essential for hotels seeking classification under the categories of 4 star, 5 star, 5-star deluxe, etc. This decision would provide flexibility to hotel owners and management staff to take a considered decision on whether to offer alcohol service or not in their units.
Tour operators are particularly worried about business during the winter season. "We are expecting some cancellations. We will have to apprise our clients of the situation," says Rajeev Kohli, joint MD of Creative Travel.
About 15% of all foreign tourists coming into India checked into Kerala, which translated into total revenues, both direct and indirect, of around Rs23,000 crore in 2013. Online travel agencies say it will also impact domestic travel to Kerala and many people planning a winter trip to the destination might now change their plans. A lot of corporate conferences that are planned in Kerala may also be shifted elsewhere. Domestic tourists to the state stood at 1.08 crore in 2013, while there were over 8.58 lakh foreigners who visited Kerala last year.
Crist Inman, executive director, Raxa Collective, the management arm of Muthoot Leisure and Hospitality, says the state's current restrictions on alcohol sales are worrying hoteliers. "Right now, we have a beer and wine licence at one of our properties — Cardamom County in Thekkady — and the challenge of maintaining that licence combined with the monopoly-cost of product is already so high. If the restrictions get tighter and if the state goes dry, Kerala would lose tourism as an important source of value-add to the economy," he says.
The ministry of tourism has proposed that 4 and 5-star hotels in the state need not necessarily have a bar that serves alcohol on the premises. Tourism minister Shripad Naik said 5 and 4 star hotels can now be classified as star hotels with or without alcohol. But the hotels must make it clear on their websites about the services they provide.
Under the guidelines of the tourism ministry, till now, alcohol was essential for hotels seeking classification under the categories of 4 star, 5 star, 5-star deluxe, etc. This decision would provide flexibility to hotel owners and management staff to take a considered decision on whether to offer alcohol service or not in their units.
Tour operators are particularly worried about business during the winter season. "We are expecting some cancellations. We will have to apprise our clients of the situation," says Rajeev Kohli, joint MD of Creative Travel.
ALCOHOL IS THE
CAUSE AND THE
SOLUTION TO MANY
OF LIFE'S PROBLEMS
KUMAAR HOLIDAYS
No. 42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road,
Valasaravakkam, Chennai-87
Cell: 7810986933 / 7810896933 / 9600076933
E-mail:kumaarholidays1@gmail.com
www.kumaarholidays.com
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