India moots single window clearance for hotels

JAIPUR - The Indian government is set to unveil a single window clearance system to set up hotels, according to Tourism Minister Kumari Selja.

“The hoteliers have to seek permission from both the central and state governments and various authorities to set up hotels. The single window clearance system will minimise the hurdles,” Selja said here late Sudnay.

She was speaking on the sidelines of ‘The Great India Travel Bazaar 2010′, organised by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

She said the proposal had been approved by a committee of secretaries and would be sent to the cabinet soon. “Once the system comes into effect, they (hoteliers) will send the proposal only to the centre,” she said.

According to her, a hospitality development and promotion board will be set up both in New Delhi and in states. “It will be a dual-headed board,” said Tourism Secretary Sujit Banerjee.

At the centre, the board will be headed by the tourism secretary and at the state by chief secretaries.

“The system we are making is that the hoteliers will give his application only to the central board, which will send a copy to the chief secretary of the state concerned to get all the clearances. It will be monitored by the central board,” he said.

The clearance system will work for all types of hotels, he said, exuding confidence that this will boost foreign investment in the hospitality segment.

Foreign tourist arrival grew by 12.8 percent in the first quarter of the 2010 calendar year.

Banerjee also said the tourism ministry was planning to start 10,000 wayside facilities on highways within five years under the public-private partnership mode.

“The wayside facilities, offering rest rooms, toilets and food outlets, will be put on every 40 km on state highways and 30 km on hill roads,” he said.