The State Government is not taking any steps for development of tourist centres in the State. Many places in western Odisha like Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sundargarh and Deogarh have ample opportunities for tourists, which are not explored, said the hoteliers here.
The representatives of Hotel and Restaurants Association of Western Odisha (HARAWO) have given a memorandum to the State Tourism Minister Jyotiprakash Panigrahi and Tourism Department Secretary Bisal Kumar Deb in VSS Airport Jharsuguda on Tuesday, enlisting their concerns. In the recent Corona period, the hotel industry has been badly affected.Without any Government assistance, the industry cannot stand up again.
Therefore, the association demanded for exemption of bar fees for the year 2020-21 , electric duty concession, permission to run bars (on-shop) without any restrictions, banquet hall opening without restrictions and exemption of all fees imposed by State Government on hotel industry etc. HARAWO general secretary Abhishek Lath also requested the Government to promote solar energy in hotel industries.
Lath, besides association member Asish Palit and others met the Tourism Minister and Secretary.