Indian hotel industry's revenue hits in FY21, seeks govt support: FHRAI

New Delhi: The Indian hotel industry has taken a hit of over Rs 1.30 lakh crore in revenue for the fiscal year 2020-21 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) said on Sunday.

The apex industry body said it has submitted a representation to the Prime Minister and a few other union ministers urging immediate support from the government to save the hospitality sector from imminent collapse and has requested several fiscal measures for this.

“The Indian hotel industry’s total revenue in FY2019-20 stood at Rs 1.82 lakh crore. As per our estimates, in FY2020-21, approximately 75 % of the industry’s revenues got wiped off. That is more than Rs 1.30 lakh crore revenue hit,” the FHRAI said in a statement.

The businesses are steadily closing and non-performing assets (NPAs) are rising, it added. Since March 2020, the industry has been struggling to manage its statutory and capital expenditure obligations.

“Repayment of loans with interest is not just difficult but impossible under a more severe economic environment due to the present surge,” FHRAI Vice President Gurbaxish Singh Kohli said.

Without a moratorium on EMIs and interest payments, the sector will completely crumble, he added. “We request the Government to offer a sector-specific policy which can mitigate all adverse financial impact including debt obligations accrued or to be accrued towards banks, financial institutions or any other entities, in view of the current circumstances and its long-term repercussions,” Kohli said.

While FHRAI understands that the government has to prioritize, ignoring the industry even now will push it to the point of no return, he added.

“Without wasting any more time, the government should make necessary special provisions to waive statutory charges for the hospitality sector,” Kohli said.