The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) has urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to support the hospitality and travel industries in the State as they have been severely impacted by the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
“The travel trade and hotel industry of Odisha is going to bear a huge financial burden as many inbound tourists are cancelling their bookings, large conferences, banquet bookings and marriage bookings in most of the hotels,” wrote HRAO chairman JK Mohanty to the Chief Minister on Monday.
Mohanty, also IATO Eastern Region chairman, demanded deferment of payment of bank loans by hotel owners as they will face difficulties in paying interest and bank EMIs by COVID-19 impact. The Government should waive SGST for the hotels till the situation becomes normal.
The other demands include waiver of fees for any upcoming licenses and permits renewal such as BMC holding tax, Bar licence fee, gound water fee, electricity fee, a complete GST tax holiday for the Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Industry for the next twelve months and immediate sanction of funds to reimburse PF, ESIC, Professional Tax, salaries of employees in the sector.