Vijayawada: Follow Covid-19 guidelines, Minister Avanti Srinivas tells hoteliers

Vijayawada: Tourism Minister Avanti Srinivas said the government has accorded permission to open the hotels and restaurants in the state from June 8 onwards and called upon the stake holders to follow the Covid-19 lock down guidelines framed by the Union government strictly.

The minister along with the Endowments minister Velampalli Srinivas conducted a meeting with the stake holders of the hospitality sector at the Berm park on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Srinivas said the government would make necessary changes to the Covid-19 guidelines as per the requirements of hoteliers and would help the hospitality sector to revive in the State.

Later, briefing the media, the minister said hotels and restaurants could be opened in the cities, towns, temple tourism places and other tourist centres in the state from June 8.

He said the hotels, resorts and restaurants must follow and display the guidelines issued by the Centre, must follow the physical distance and take measures to check the spread of Covid-19.

He said the resorts and restaurants run by the AP Tourism in various parts of the state, would be opened on June 8.

Referring to tourism promotion in the state, Srinivas said the department participated in the tourism exhibitions and conducted fairs in Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Greater Noida, Mumbai and other parts of India and in Dubai, Japan and Spain during the last one year.

He informed that nine control rooms constructed to regulate boating operations would be inaugurated soon.

He informed the AP Tourism department conducted tourism fairs in Vizag, Araku, Kotha Patnam in Prakasam district, Kadapa, Kurnool, West Godavari last year to promote tourism in the state.

Srinivas said one-third of the countries in the world were solely depending on tourism and hoped the hospitality sector in the state would bounce back soon.

Endowments Minister Velampalli Srinivas said, in the first phase, the government accorded permission for reopening of shops and industries and now, hotels and restaurants were permitted to open from June 8.

Guidelines to customers and staff

Tourism department Managing Director Praveen Kumar said the Union government issued separate guidelines for hotel management, staff and customers/guests.

He said the customers should not come out of their rooms, which they have booked, outsiders should not be allowed into hotel rooms, the customers must not maintain intimacy with other customers of hotel and maintain physical distance.

He said wearing mask was mandatory for hotel staff and customers and added washing clothes in hotels was not permitted.

Referring to hotel and restaurants staff, he said all staff must maintain two metres distance in the hotel, frequently wash hands with sanitisers or soaps, must wear masks and gloves, throw paper plates, cups and bottles in the dust bins and take steps to maintain hygiene in hostel and keep environs clean.