News

 

R.H. Khwaja is the new Union Tourism Secretary

Shri R.H. Khwaja, IAS, has taken over as Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, succeeding Shri Sujit Banerjee, IAS, who retired on 31st July, 2010 on superannuating.

Shri Khwaja was earlier Special Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

Centre unveils code of conduct for Tourism Industry

The Union Government has unveiled a code of conduct for the tourism industry, to ensure better safety and security of all tourists. While unveiling the ‘Code of Conduct for Safe and Honourable Tourism,' Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said though such guidelines were developed by world bodies like the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), this code was based on India's futuristic needs and challenges. She called it “our own innovation inspired by the existing code of ethics of the UNWTO”. The code would be applicable to all owners, suppliers, contractors and employees of the travel and tour sector, including hotels, restaurants, lodges, guest houses, tour agents and entertainment establishments. It would also be applicable to service providers such as event management organisations, entertainment providers, transport operators like taxis and buses, tour guides, and other services or agencies associated with the tourism sector. Ms. Selja urged all stakeholders to adopt the code at the earliest. The code was developed by the Tourism Ministry in association with the Pacific-Asia Travel Association India Chapter, Save the Children-India, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes and the Equitable Tourism Option. It lays down detailed guidelines for the industry, with some components being the training of personnel, public awareness, regulated use of premises, ethical business practices and marketing.

HRANI to take strong stand against Delhi govt’s decision on Luxury Tax

Hotel & Restaurant Association of Northern India (HRANI) will convene an emergency meeting of its members shortly in Delhi to decide on their future course of action against Delhi government’s ‘adamant stand’ on Luxury Tax (LT). According to Vijai Pande, President, HRANI, the association may take extreme steps and even boycott the Commonwealth Games, scheduled in October 2010, if the government continues to neglect the demand of hoteliers’ fraternity.

The association is also against the government’s decision to exempt LT during Commonwealth Games to foreign tourists and government delegates from other countries. “The decision is deplorable and discriminatory. How can any government discriminate its own people?” Pande asked.

Hoteliers in Delhi have been demanding a reduction in LT and also treating ‘actual tariff’ for the calculation of LT for a long time. “We have met Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister, Delhi, a number of occasions and given representation to this effect. Unfortunately, the government has taken no action in this matter,” said Pande.

HRANI to take strong stand against Delhi govt’s decision on Luxury Tax

Hotel & Restaurant Association of Northern India (HRANI) will convene an emergency meeting of its members shortly in Delhi to decide on their future course of action against Delhi government’s ‘adamant stand’ on Luxury Tax (LT). According to Vijai Pande, President, HRANI, the association may take extreme steps and even boycott the Commonwealth Games, scheduled in October 2010, if the government continues to neglect the demand of hoteliers’ fraternity.

The association is also against the government’s decision to exempt LT during Commonwealth Games to foreign tourists and government delegates from other countries. “The decision is deplorable and discriminatory. How can any government discriminate its own people?” Pande asked.

Hoteliers in Delhi have been demanding a reduction in LT and also treating ‘actual tariff’ for the calculation of LT for a long time. “We have met Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister, Delhi, a number of occasions and given representation to this effect. Unfortunately, the government has taken no action in this matter,” said Pande.

Delhi Restaurants To Serve “Lighter Spirits” Soon

The Delhi Government has recently announced relaxation in its liquor-serving policy, and will start giving out liquor licences to restaurants and eating joints to serve “lighter spirits” from next week.

The liquor licence, called L-4D, will allow restaurants to serve only wine and beer at a cheaper licence fee. The new L-4D licence is quite cheap, will vary between Rs 25 lakh a year to Rs 5.5 lakh. The licence will cost Rs 2.5 lakh to restaurants with seating capacity less than 50, Rs.  3.5 lakh for 50 to 100 cover restaurants, Rs. 4.5 lakh for 100-200 cover restaurants and Rs.  5.5 lakh for eateries having seating capacity of more than 200. The excise officials believe that the new excise policy will go well with the changing profile of the city.

“We had been demanding that a new category of licence be introduced at cheaper rates, that allows restaurants to serve only beer and wine. There are a lot of eating joints that do not want to serve hard liquor but would certainly like to serve soft liquor to its customers. It is definitely a welcome development,” said S.M. Shervani, Secretary, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India.

Mapple Hotels Launches Mapple Emerald New Delhi 

Mapple Hotels, Palaces and Resorts has launched Mapple Emerald New Delhi, a business cum leisure hotel is spread over seven acres. The hotel has 54 rooms including suite, club rooms and deluxe rooms, and provides mini bar/tea coffee maker, electronic safe, LCD and hairdryer and high-speed Internet facilities in all the rooms. The hotel boasts an exclusive bar — Clink, a restaurant and coffee shop — Elements and a tea lounge. Other facilities include a business centre, lavish banquet halls, meeting rooms, terrace party arena, gymnasium, car parking facilities, foreign exchange assistance, doctor on call and concierge and travel services.

IHF 2010 To Be Held In New Delhi In October

The 3rd edition of International Hospitality Fair (IHF) will be held from October 21 to 23, 2010 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the event will be supported by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and leading industry associations like Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI), National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), Hotel Association of India (HAI) and Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA).

IHF 2010 will be an exclusive B2B event for the complete Hospitality related services. The fair will showcase the latest trends in the hospitality industry in F&B including wines, equipments, housekeeping, interiors and design, engineering and technology. Concurrent events like tourism summit, culinary and pastry challenges, bar tending challenges, wine tasting, full day revenue management and dynamic pricing programme by IIM, Ahmedabad, seminars and workshops on financial services, food safety, green building and green initiatives, interior and design, legal issues, safety and security will add value to the event.

Himachal Pradesh CM Inaugurates Tourism Complex & Aquarium In Bilaspur

Adding another milestone to the tourism infrastructure in the state, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh recently inaugurated a tourism complex with wayside amenities and an aquarium in Bilaspur, constructed at a cost of Rs 1.17 crore. With the completion of the complex, tourists will get facilities of wayside amenities to make their journey more convenient. The aquarium has been constructed to amuse tourists especially children during their halts.