HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY ALSO HOPES FOR A MORE PRAGMATIC APPROACH FOR ENCOURAGING ENTERPRISE

HRAWI Commends MTDC’s MITM Initiative

Mumbai: The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has welcomed Maharashtra Tourism’s Maharashtra International Travel Mart (MITM) 2015 initiative and has expressed optimism about its effect on the hospitality industry. The event is expected to bring together organisations from the travel trade industry, travel agents, tour operators, hoteliers, among others for encouraging new business relationships and open new avenues for businesses to synergize. The hospitality industry while commending this initiative, has also expressed hope from the tourism department to address some core issues pertaining to tourism pragmatically, in order to encourage and attract new players.

Bharat Malkani, President, HRAWI

“At the outset, MITM is a forthcoming and practical initiative by the tourism department of Maharashtra. Its initiation asserts the department’s objective of making the state a value proposition for tourists. We are pleased to know that the tourism authority is making efforts in this direction and are positive that its outcome will benefit hospitality as well,” says Mr. Bharat Malkani, President, HRAWI.

“For tourism to flourish it is critical that all stakeholders involved should have a level playing field and new enterprise should be encouraged. Till the time, policies and laws are archaic or not in sync with the changing times, the industry would end up spending all their time battling administrative chores instead of engaging in productive activities. This will result in a scattered, rather than a concentrated effort towards bettering tourism. We hope that the tourism department takes constructive steps such as implementation of the single window clearance system, improving infrastructure, providing due consideration to ancillary industries including hospitality while promoting tourism on a global map,” he adds.

“For the last one decade the hospitality industry in Mumbai has been at the receiving end of some very unfriendly taxations and policies. Over taxing and impractical policies adversely affect the cost and convenience of inbound tourists and over the long term decreases total revenues of the State. Initiatives like MITM reposes the seriousness and commitment of the Government. We also believe that the feedback that they get from the delegates will prompt them to relook at some of the redundant laws and impractical policies and taxes. We hope the new Government will bring in a new outlook,” concludes Mr. Malkani.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 65 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include smaller Hotels up to 5-Star Deluxe categories. The bulk of its members like any growth economy are made up of budget hotels. With around 1300 members across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu & Silvassa, and is considered to be the voice of the Hotel Industry. The association is part of the national body of Federation of the Hotels & Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950 by the late Mr. J.R.D. Tata.