Owners seek government package for restoration and renovation facilities
Owners seek government package for restoration and renovation facilities
Hotel owners in Paharganj are up in arms against the government and the Commonwealth Games (CWG) organisers.
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Small-budget hotels in the congested Paharganj area are a haven for backpackers |
The hotel owners have threatened to boycott the CWG, if the government does not offer them any help. And if they carry out their threat, it could create a huge crisis as the area has close to 30,000 low-budget hotel rooms, which are a huge hit with backpackers from around the world.
"All we are telling the government is that when they can spend Rs 140 crore to upgrade and renovate the Ashoka Hotel, why can't they help the hotels here, which will be hosting a majority of the visitors to the city," said Arun Gupta, secretary general of the Delhi Hotel Mahasangh.
u00a0"We are not asking the government to dole out free money, all we want is some subsidy and some low interest loans so that we can carry out renovation, make it aesthetic and upgrade facilities in our hotels," added Gupta.
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Refurbishing a single room would cost Rs 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh, according to the Hotel Mahasangh.
It will include improving the frontage and aesthetics. |
"Frontage of most hotels could be made better and aesthetic. If the foreigners come here and are happy, will it not be good for the country and the government's image? Besides not all hotels require help, only 35 per cent of them actually need support from the government," said Gupta.
The authorities on the other hand have a different take on the issue. "The government is providing all kinds of help to better facilities and also in upgrading civic amenities at these locations. However, I won't be able to comment on what help the tourism department of the Union Government is providing to the hotels," said Narayan Swami, special advisor,u00a0 Commonwealth Games 2010.
