The Tourism Industry Coordination Council has said the uncertainty and confusion have affected the tourism industry and has urged the government to overhaul the liquor policy.
Policy overhaul
The council wants the government to relax the liquor policy in view of the role of tourism in the State’s economy. It suggested that more bar licences be issued to restaurants, all hotels from one-star rating and above be given licences, reduce the distance limit of bars from public places such as schools and places of worship to 50 metres, allow bars to open from 9 am to midnight and open more beer and wine parlours.
“The plans to bring in more stringent measures will spoil the scope of tourism industry,” a council statement says. “The growth of the industry relies mainly on services offered which include availability of quality liquor.”
The council noted that the government plans to limit liquor permits to 5-star hotels will not help the industry as the majority of tourists depended on cheaper hotels and resorts.
It also pointed out that the current curbs on serving wine and beer on house boats would kill the backwater tourism in the State. The bars should be allowed to function all days except on Gandhi Jayanthi day. The bar licence fee should be reduced to ₹10 lakh from the current ₹23 lakhs.
The council also suggested that the government sanction manufacture of arrack as most tourists loved to drink locally-made liquor. “Toddy from coconut and palm trees may be converted as local liquor and steps to produce liquor from natural and abundantly available fruits such as jackfruit, pineapple, cashew apple may be initiated,” the council says.
Give bar licence to one-star hotels, reduce fee, urges Kerala tourism body
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