- News>
- Kerala
Plea to restructure liquor policy
The Tourism Industry Coordination Council has urged the state government to totally restructure the liquor policy by amending rules.
Kochi: The Tourism Industry Coordination Council has urged the state government to totally restructure the liquor policy by amending rules.
Various associations representing tourism industry has proposed total deregulation in production and distribution of liquor in the state stating that uncertainty in formulating liquor policies, confusion in implementing the regulations and restricting the licenses only to 5 star hotels will severely hit the tourism industry.
In a statement here, Johny Abraham George, President, Kerala Travel Mart, Gopinath, President Association of Approved and Classified Hotels of Kerala and Jose Dominic, Past President KTM and TIE Kerala, urged the government to amend the rules in the liquor policy and provide licences to one star hotel and reinstate the issuance of licence to leading restaurants.
The license fees for Bars should be brought down to Rs 10 lakh and Rs 5000 for Beer and Wine parlours, the council said.
The council also urged issuance of licences to house boats, home stays, serviced villas and major restaurants which will boost the industry. The government`s plans to limit liquor permits only to 5 star hotels will not help the industry, it said, adding, majority of tourists depend on other hotels and resorts and denial of liquor will make it less attractive. Kerala Government had recently refrained from renewing the licenses of 418 bars in the state stating that they had to upgrade themselves.
Various associations representing tourism industry has proposed total deregulation in production and distribution of liquor in the state stating that uncertainty in formulating liquor policies, confusion in implementing the regulations and restricting the licenses only to 5 star hotels will severely hit the tourism industry.
In a statement here, Johny Abraham George, President, Kerala Travel Mart, Gopinath, President Association of Approved and Classified Hotels of Kerala and Jose Dominic, Past President KTM and TIE Kerala, urged the government to amend the rules in the liquor policy and provide licences to one star hotel and reinstate the issuance of licence to leading restaurants.
The license fees for Bars should be brought down to Rs 10 lakh and Rs 5000 for Beer and Wine parlours, the council said.
The council also urged issuance of licences to house boats, home stays, serviced villas and major restaurants which will boost the industry. The government`s plans to limit liquor permits only to 5 star hotels will not help the industry, it said, adding, majority of tourists depend on other hotels and resorts and denial of liquor will make it less attractive. Kerala Government had recently refrained from renewing the licenses of 418 bars in the state stating that they had to upgrade themselves.