Ministry

FHRAI moots for hotel incentives in Sikkim, WB

Proposes hill circuit for the region

Sanjeev Bhar - New Delhi

The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI), in order to facilitate promotion of hill stations in the states of Sikkim and West Bengal, has proposed for incentives for new hotel projects in the region.

Rajesh Mishra, its president, revealed that the association has actively taken on the role to promote the region by bringing its natural hill destinations into focus. "The hill stations in Sikkim and north WB are known for their rich heritage and fascinating flora. The best part is the connectivity of the region that is well-developed with good roads crisscrossing one another. Though there is an immediate need for hotels to bring in more tourists," he said.

FHRAI has identified a possible hill circuit combining hill stations of Siliguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Sandakpur, Kurseong, etc. "These hill stations are well-connected by roads and equipped with other requisite infrastructure that is necessary for tourism growth. However, there is a shortage of rooms and we need to attract hoteliers with incentives to come up with new projects. I had a meeting with the chief minister of Sikkim to take this plan ahead. We are planning to put forth our view along with Sikkim CM to Minister of Tourism & Culture, Ambika Soni about the immediate need to look into hotel development in this region," Mishra said. He said that he expects to get a nod on the incentive proposal for hoteliers with help from West Bengal and Sikkim governments.