Hotel industry demands better infrastructure

In spite of actions by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation widespread adulteration is being practised in the food business, chairman of the Ahmedabad Hotel Owner's Association and the health committee chairman of the AMC said here on Sunday.

The main problem is that the laws are so old and impractical they can not be implemented and therefore wide-scale bribing takes place and even the basic standards are not maintained. "You can easily get an Agmark on paying Rs 2,500. Moreover, every hotel needs to have a water purifier but not all the hotel owners maintain this," the association members said.

The hotel industry needs a boost, which the state government can provide by rationalising taxes levied on the industry. The state needs a proper tourism policy and some changes in the infrastructure, both physical and legal to support proper growth of the industry, felt the hotel owners on the eve of its platinum anniversary. The highest luxury tax and no relaxation in the prohibition policy also act as a deterrent.

The members of the association demanded that the association demanded that the producers and traders who sell adulterated goods to hotels should be held responsible. "We buy the product in good faith. For example, Coca-Cola had come up with a scheme of giving the hotel owners two bottles free with every crate. However, all the free bottles that we got were well past the expiry date," they pointed out.

"Therefore, we should be considered as witnesses rather than a defaulting party," they argued.

However, when asked why the hoteliers could not check the quality of the goods they purchase, they said it was not feasible. There are many redundant laws like the hotel license holder has to seek the SP's permission before leaving the city, the need to obtain 35 licenses from different agencies or starting a new hotel and also the way the health inspectors of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation check the items. To discuss all these problems and to come up with some feasible solutions, the association members are meeting in the city on Monday.

Republished from The Asian Age