Hotel industry will flourish when hospitality sector is given industry status: APHA president Srinivasa Rao

Andhra Pradesh Hotels Association’s (APHA) State new president G. Srinivasa Rao on Sunday (September 28, 2025) said hotel industry in the State would flourish when the government accords industry status to the hospitality sector. He said that all hotels put together had been paying around ₹2,500 crore revenue in various forms of taxes to the government, which needs to take steps for the development of the sector.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao, Managing Director of Hotel Maruthi-Vizianagaram, took charge as the new president in Vijayawada on Saturday evening (September 28, 2025). Speaking to The Hindu on the occasion, he said that industry status, if given, would pave the way for concession in various taxes including GST, property tax, electricity bills and loans at affordable interest rates.

He requested the government to allow hotels to function till 12 a.m. as bars were given permission as per the new excise policy. He urged the government to provide bar permission for small hotels with 20 rooms also on the lines of Karnataka State.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said APHA delegation submitted a memorandum recently to Andhra Pradesh Minister Kandula Durgesh and Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation MD Amrapali on the issues of the industry during a national meet on tourism and hospitality sector in Bengaluru recently.