The two-day All India Convention of Hotels and Restaurants organized by the South India Hotels and Restaurants Association (SIHRA), held at Taj Residency in Thiruavananthapuram on 7 and 8 December 2009, ended successfully and on a note of high expectation on the future prospects of the industry.
 

The Convention’s business sessions were addressed by key policy makers, senior government officials, industry leaders and experts in various fields. The sessions focused on the business opportunities in Kerala and emerging trends in the hotel industry. The Convention deliberated on how best the hospitality and tourism industry can benefit from past experience and plan effectively for a better future with confidence.

In a message to the Convention, Kumari Selja, Minister for Tourism, Government of India said that both domestic and international tourist traffic had grown to admirable extent and the only way to sustain this would be by creating world class hotels, construction of upmarket infrastructure development and development of high calibre human resources.

Inaugurating the Convention, Kerala Chief Minister Mr. V.S. Achuthanandan said that Tourism and IT hold immense potential and have a major role to play in the development of the State. Kerala is placing stress on basic infrastructure development, he said. The Chief Minister also stated that the Vizhinjam International Container Transhipment Terminal at Thiruvananthapuram and the Kannur airport would be empowered within a period of three years. Kerala had made a mark for itself on the world tourism map, courtesy of its natural attractions, favourable climate conditions and the efforts of the Government to boost visitor arrivals. Hotels and restaurants play a major role in the tourism development, said the Chief Minister. Tourists look for standard accommodation at affordable rates, good service and good food. He urged the hospitality industry to help increase tourist arrivals.

In his address, Mr. M.P. Purushothaman, President, SIHRA, urged the State Government’s to cut down the luxury tax to 10 per cent on actuals on room tariff above Rs.1,000 and to remove tax on other services. He also urged the Government to rationalise the tax structure and make industrial power tariff applicable for hotels.