TULSIPUR (DANG), Oct 22: Hotel entrepreneurs in Tulsipur have demanded that the local administration permit the operation of hotels until 11 PM.
They argued that hoteliers were facing hard times after COVID-19 and extension of the opening hours till 11 PM would greatly help to address their financial hardship.
Proprietor of Kumakh Café, Tuphan KC, said, "Hotel business, which was hit hard by Covid-19, is gradually reviving. So, the government needs to be positive towards the hotel business."
Although the District Administration Office, Dang, gave written permission to run the business till 11 PM, police have been closing down the hotels at 9 PM, the hoteliers said. The forceful closure of hotels has had a negative impact on business, according to KC.
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If the hotels were to open till midnight, it would be comfortable for new visitors arriving late at night from outside to check without having to worry about good accommodation. The local administration should pay heed to this issue, hoteliers said.
FNCCI district chapter chair Binil KC seconded the hoteliers that it was wrong on the part of the police to close the hotels at 9 PM. There is no decision made to this end either, he added.
However, Deputy Supetintendent of Police Anil Thakuri denied that the police had forced the closure of all types of hotels at 9. “Only pubs were asked to close by 9 PM,” he said. "The hotels running in a good manner have not intervened. Noisy pubs are not permitted to open after 9 PM," DSP Thakuri said. “The local pubs and inns are closed down becaue they serve as safe places possible criminal activities in the wake of festivals.”
Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Lamsal said, "Local administration can allow running business as per the need.”
There are over 500 hotel entrepreneurs in Tulsipur.
He also reiterated that the local administration could take decisions citing security. Till date, no separate decision was taken on the period for hotel operation.
