The hoteliers of Mysuru will soon appeal to the State government to bring hotels under the purview of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in order to prevent organisations from forcing them to close down during strikes. They believe hotels should be treated on a par with medical services.
C. Narayana Gowda, president of the Mysuru Hoteliers’ Association, told The Hindu that hotels, particularly in tourist hubs such as Mysuru, are of paramount importance. If hotels are shut down forcibly, tourists too would put to a lot of hardship, he said.
He said there have been many occasions of hotels being shut down forcibly and consequently, sending the food they had prepared to orphanages. He added that there have been many instances of tourists leaving for adjoining districts without exploring Mysuru after finding hotels forced shut.
The association had given a letter to the Commissioner of Police after recent strikes, seeking police protection to run their trade in peace. Mr. Gowda said hoteliers had supported a few organisations on “certain valid causes”, but they should not be forced to shut down during every strike.
A delegation of hoteliers will soon meet the Ministers concerned, both at the State level and Union level, and explain the difficulties faced by hoteliers during snap strikes.
