Hoteliers in the State have restated their request for the hospitality sector to be granted industry status. In a meeting with Tourism Minister R.K. Roja on Wednesday, representatives from the Andhra Pradesh Hoteliers’ Association, including President R.V. Swamy, President of Vijayawada Hotel Owners’ Association P.V. Ramana, former President P. Ravi, Treasurer Mallikarjuna, and others, expressed their gratitude to the government for allowing eateries in the State to operate until midnight. However, they also brought to her attention the issue of some places where the police department was still imposing restrictions. Mr. Swamy mentioned that they had already communicated this concern to the Director-General of Police, who assured them of necessary actions.
Emphasizing that the hospitality sector employed a significant number of unskilled and uneducated individuals, second only to the MSME sector, they argued that granting industry status would not only help hoteliers survive the current crisis but also enable them to establish new hotels in the State.