Munnar: Offering big relief for travellers to the popular hill station of Munnar in Kerala, the local authorities have taken a major decision to curb fleecing of guests by hotels, resorts and homestays during holidays.
Under the new decision, these businesses have to submit the rate cards of room rents for each season along with applications for panchayat licence and police clearance.
The decision was taken at a meeting attended by officers of various departments. Representatives of hotels, resorts and homestays also were present.
There were rampant complaints that resorts and others providing accommodation in Munnar were inflating room rents manifold during the summer holidays. It was ‘Malayala Manorama’ which brought the issue to public attention and the newspaper had reported that tourists were forced to pay Rs 8,000-10,000 for rooms having a tariff of merely Rs 1,000.
Major decisions at the meeting
1) Awareness drive should be carried out among tourist guides and taxi drivers in Munnar regarding excess room rent and taxi fares.
2) Display room rent in all accommodation facilities.
3) Strict action will be initiated by Food Safety Authorities against outlets serving stale food.
4) Owners of resorts, hotels and restaurants should collect identity cards of all employees.
5) Stringent action will be launched against businesses which allow sewage and waste water to flow to water bodies.
