SHRA seeks bandh exemption for tourism sector

GANGTOK, 31 March: Sikkim Hotel & Restaurant Association [SHRA] has appealed to the ruling party to exempt hotels, travel agencies and tourist vehicles from the purview of the 48-hour Sikkim Bandh called by it for 04 and 05 April.
While doing so, the association has extended full support to the idea behind the bandh, welcoming the initiative as one launched for local protection in employment opportunities created here and to condemn the sidelining and negligence of local candidates by private companies in the State.
Addressing a press conference today, president SHRA, Bhanu Pratap Rasaily, pointed out that April marks the start of the tourist season and a strike in the first week of the season would divert tourist flow to other destinations and could tarnish the image of the state, causing long term effect on tourism here.
He stressed that tourism being a priority sector of the state government, the SHRA was appealing to the ruling party to exempt this sector from the bandh. Mr Rasaily said that the association was confident that the party will understand the request.

“We can show our support if there is in any other way to confront the private companies which are denying the Sikkimese their rights,” he said.
Mr. Rasaily stressed that people know Sikkim as a peaceful and friendly state, but if the tourists were to go back with a bad experience or incomplete holidays, it will take another 15 years to re-build this image.
He shared that most of the tourists move on pre-scheduled programmes and bandhs disrupt their plans. “If those who were already in the state are made to leave without enjoying the state fully, then it will give a bad impression of the state,” he said.
“We do not have any problems with shutting down for two days in support of the bandh because we understand it is a peaceful strike, but the people from outside will not understand this and may return with the wrong impression,” he said.
They mentioned that this bandh will not only affect the hoteliers, but also all the stakeholders from the grassroots level.
The Association pointed out that the companies targeted with the bandh might take it lightly because it was so expansive and suggested that individual targeting on such companies might deliver better results.
They added that if these companies are ignoring the MoUs, then the government should take appropriate action against them.
The association also urged these companies to ensure local employment and equal opportunities to local people by providing them jobs as per their qualifications and help in skill development as well.
On local employment, the SHRA mentioned that even if hotels have not employed local people directly, locals still have been benefiting and receiving various employment opportunities from the hotel sector.
They pointed out that there is huge scarcity of manpower in the hotel sector in the state and the association wants local youth to come forward and take full advantage. The association was there to help, they added.
SHRA general secretary, Vivek Pradhan, mentioned that the hotel industry wants local candidates to come forward as it would be easy for the hotels to have local staff, but the people have not been very forthcoming, he added.
“We are ready to help them in skill development and encourage them to become entrepreneurs but have not seen much interest and participation from the local people”, he points out.