Explorer

Illegal Tourist Accommodation Acts A Bane For Tourism Industry In Himachal

Though Manali is packed with tourist vehicles, it is not reflected in the room occupancy, said president of Manali Hoteliers’ Association Mukesh Thakur.

Shimla: Mushrooming of illegal tourist accommodation units has become a bane for the tourism industry in Himachal Pradesh as it affects the genuine business establishments, say hoteliers in the hill state.

Though Manali is packed with tourist vehicles, it is not reflected in the room occupancy, said president of Manali Hoteliers’ Association Mukesh Thakur.

Illegal and unregistered units are offering huge discounts on rooms which the hotels paying taxes cannot compete with, he added. Thakur said illegal structures awaiting regularisation are selling rooms online, creating unhealthy competition, while units not registered with government departments or registered under HomeStay and Bed and Breakfast (BandB) are operating through online portals.

A large number of people from outside the state also have taken properties on lease and are running accommodations as tourism units without registration, he told PTI.

The tourism/hotel associations claimed that about 9,000-10,000 unauthorised rooms are available in Manali and Shimla.

Tariffs of registered hotels are fixed by the Tourism Department but online operators are booking rooms in private flats, homes, bungalows, villas and misleading the tourists by giving discounts, It is hitting the hotel industry hard, lamented M K Seth of Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association.

As per the guidelines, the homestay units can have a maximum of three rooms while six rooms are allowed under the BandB scheme but these and norms are flouted with impunity, he said.

Officials of the tourism department maintained that it is difficult to search illegal accommodations as intrusion into any private premises without solid evidence would tantamount to trespass and the owners can easily claim that the people staying in the accommodation are their personal guests.

We take action on specific complaints after enquiring into the allegations as running homestays and hotel units without registration is an offense, they added. 

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

'Not In Good Taste', 'No Significance In Maharashtra': NDA Leaders Divided Over 'Batenge To Katenge' Slogan
'Not In Good Taste', 'No Significance In Maharashtra': NDA Leaders Divided Over 'Batenge To Katenge' Slogan
GRAP 3 In Delhi From Tomorrow As AQI Remains In 'Severe' Category. Details Here
GRAP 3 In Delhi From Tomorrow As AQI Remains In 'Severe' Category. Details Here
AAP's Mahesh Kumar Khichi Elected As Delhi's New Mayor Amid Cross-Voting
AAP's Mahesh Kumar Khichi Elected As Delhi's New Mayor Amid Cross-Voting
'Cong Desperate For Power Like Fish Out Of Water': Modi At Mumbai Rally, Takes 'Remote Control' Jibe At Uddhav
'Cong Desperate For Power Like Fish Out Of Water': Modi At Mumbai Rally, Takes 'Remote Control' Jibe At Uddhav
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

Nirmala Sitharaman Announces Game-Changing Collateral-Free Loan Scheme for MSMEsSIP Emerges as a Safe Investment Amidst Market Fluctuations | Paisa LiveTop Banks Offering 8.75% Interest for Senior Citizens: Here’s What You Need to Know!RBI Set to Make a Big Decision on Your EMI: What You Need to Know!

Photo Gallery

Embed widget