Stopgap curbs don’t work, bring out plan for industry: Mumbai hoteliers

Restaurateurs said providing only takeaway is better than operating for limited hours. Representation pic

Worried about stopgap Covid-19 restrictions, city hoteliers have said that they will not be able to bear the burden of another round of curbs if cases rise again or if a third wave comes. Businessmen questioned that if big players are not able to survive the restrictions, how will small restaurants and hotels make ends meet.

The state government has classified districts for relaxations based on the test positivity rate (TPR) and availability of oxygen beds. Mumbai is in Level 3 and it is hoped that it will graduate to Level 2 since the TPR has been steady. However, after the closing of a five-star hotel's Mumbai outlet on Monday, many have claimed that the sudden easing and imposing of lockdowns is harming businesses.

"While hotels can afford to run full-time with a restriction on occupancy, the restrictions in operating time for restaurants makes it difficult to earn anything. Giving only takeaway service is still sustainable because we save on staff salaries," said a restaurant owner from Bandra.

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The curbs amid the second wave came just when restaurants and hotels had started reviving. Many businesses are not reopening because it will be difficult for staff to return now from their native places at a short notice, and return in case curbs are put again.

Shivanand Shetty of Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association (AHAR) said, "Only 20 to 30 per cent of the city's restaurants opened on the first day of the relaxations as closing by 4 pm is not suitable for us. But we are more worried about the future. We cannot ask our staff to come to work now and then return to their native places when the third wave comes or because of the city getting pushed to Level 4 due to an increase in cases. We need to have a plan for the hotel industry. If big hotels have to shut down, how will small restaurateurs and hoteliers pay the salaries of their staff without any earnings?"

Vishwanath Shetty, a hotelier from Andheri, said, "We are trying to talk to the authorities to help strengthen our industry as we have been struggling for over a year. The relaxations need to be extended. We are hoping that the city enters Level 2, only then will it be viable to resume work."