First simplification step For The Hotel Industry –
Maharashtra triggers Ease Of Business
The Maharashtra Tourism’s Maharashtra
International Travel Mart (MITM) 2015 became a landmark event for Tourism in
the State, as Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis announced some major
reforms for the hospitality industry. In a bid to boost tourism in the state,
the CM showed his commitment for ‘Ease of Business’ by clubbing common
permissions and scrapping some of the outdated licenses due to their archaic outlive
of operating hotel and restaurant businesses.
Based on the proposals submitted to
the government and convincing each one concerned, in spite of their
transferable portfolios over this decade, the Hotel and Restaurant Association
of Western India (HRAWI) single-handedly got some of the key resolutions passed
by the CM like the reduction of operating licences from 75 to 25, requiring
only 5 forms for obtaining all these licences, abolishment of event licences
for pre-designated locations, permission for live performances, among others.
Mr. Bharat Malkani, President,
HRAWI said that this is a big step forward that will lead to increase
of
investments in hospitality industry for Maharashtra. “We have been engaging
with various departments of the State government like Police, BMC, Excise etc
as well as the Central government for the last ten years on this. The impact of
this move will be visible in the immediate to the long term. We are absolutely
thrilled with the CM’s announcement and are grateful to the government for
acknowledging and addressing our woes.”
 |
| Bharat Malkani, President, HRAWI |
HRAWI has been advocating the
implementation of an online single window clearance system for renewal of
licences for the hotel industry, through a consultant appointed by MTDC. The
association had also submitted a proposed Tourism Policy 2015, to the
government of Maharashtra with a Vision statement.
“Licences with a common purpose were
clubbed within a single license, while out-dated regulating licenses were annulled
with concurrence from the concerned authority on
practical time-lines. With the
implementation of the proposal, MTDC would become the nodal agency to which
restaurants and hotels will apply for new reduced licenses and existing renewals.
MTDC will act as a single window that will in turn fetch all licenses from the
relevant departments and have the applicants pick them up from the same window,
preferably online. An online application alike today’s shopping carts will have
drop-down forms with timelines and fees to click on a single window that will
increase the room and restaurant supply for the State besides reducing waste of time for everybody
as well as increase efficiency. Today a
foreigner staying one extra night in the State will increase forex revenue to
Maharashtra government of Rs. 609 crores, per night,” says Mr. Kamlesh Barot,
past President, HRAWI.
 |
| Kamlesh Barot, President, HRAWI |
“Going the online route, like
passport applications, will also ensure that the permits are granted within a
set time frame. Ultimately we should be able to curb the number of licenses,
permits, NOCs and registrations from 112 to 20 for opening a new establishment
as well as simplify renewing of existing licenses and abolishment of
archaic rules of the BMC, Police and
Excise departments, reorient the Urban Development, Energy and Labour
departments, among others. If sanctioned and implemented at the earliest, the
proposal holds capacity to boost tourism and realise the ‘Corruption-free India’
dream at least for the hospitality sector,” concludes Mr. Barot.
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.
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