The Tourism Department has granted project approvals to more than 155 hotels to meet growing requirement of tourist accomodation in the country, Minister for Tourism Ambika Soni informed Rajya Sabha.

In a written reply, she said though construction of hotels was primarily a private sector activity, the department has a voluntary scheme of granting approval at the project and planning stage.

The department has asked all the state governments and other land owning agencies, including Indian Railways, to allocate land for building hotels especially in the budget category, she said.

Soni said the tourism department has a scheme "Incentive to accomodation Infrastructure" under which subsidy of 10 per cent of the principal loan is given to the hotel of budget and low-budget categories, subject to a maximum assistance of Rs 25 lakh for one star, Rs 50 lakh for two star and Rs 75 lakh for three star hotels.

To another question, she said as per the estimates available, the shortage of hotel rooms in the country is approximately 30,000 rooms presently. However, she denied that officials of her Ministry have been permitted to accomodate tourists in their residential places.

She also informed the house that Indian nationals and foreigners are being charged diferent tariffs by some hotels, airlines and for entry into some monumentss. The issue of purchasing power parity between Indians and citizens of developed countries has to be kept in view as far as entry tariff to monuments is concerned, she added.

( www.newkerala.com)