As the hospitality industry tries to recover from the Covid-19 outbreak, the HRAB is pleading with the government to provide ESP loans to this industry. Although there are currently 123 farmhouses and 395 approved tourist-standard hotels in the area, visitor numbers are lower than they were before the epidemic. The HRAB cautions that financial institutions may be seriously at risk from the sector’s non-performing loans. The hotel industry sustains rural livelihoods and more than 50,000 jobs. Citing the ESP framework’s time-consuming procedures and limited benefits, the BCCI has called for a reassessment. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment has not responded to the issues raised by HRAB.
HRAB is also addressing human resource shortages, work permit challenges, and digital marketing training to improve the industry’s online visibility and operational efficiency. HRAB proposes a duration-based and group-size discount on the SDF to promote regional tourism and longer stays. It also seeks a dedicated Sustainability Fund to support operations, with MoICE working with the Department of Trade to consolidate hotels and restaurants. HRAB aims for broader participation and government support to strengthen the sector’s recovery.