Plea to Include Tourism in Anti-hartal Bill

KOCHI: Travel and tourism sector should also be included in the proposed bill  against hartals, said Kerala Travel Mart president (KTM) Johny Abraham.

Despite repeated demands, the Kerala government has not yet taken any steps  for  exemption of tourism sector from hartals and bandhs. Tourism contributes a major part of the State’s revenue.

He pointed out that tourists from other countries suffered due to hartals and Kerala lost package tours because of the same reason.

“We wholeheartedly welcome the bill against hartals. The bill proposes that  nobody should be forced to take part in a hartal through psychological or  physical compulsion. Similarly, schools, religions institutions, public services  etc should not be affected and violence and arson should be avoided at any cost  by hartal supporters. These directions in the draft bill should be applicable to the tourism sector also,” he added.