AHMEDABAD: Ahmedabad’s restaurateurs and hoteliers are delighted with the government’s decision to shorten the curfew by an hour. Just one day before the decision, the state’s Hotel and Restaurant Association (HRA) requested, citing the reduced number of Covid-19 cases in Gujarat, to impose the curfew from midnight instead of the current 10 p.m.
Dilip Thakkar, an Ahmedabad-based restaurateur, said, “Easing the timing will help restaurants revive their business.”
Narendra Somani, President of HRA – Gujarat said, “With a curfew at 10pm, restaurants are forced to stop walk-ins at 9pm, which is affecting visitor numbers. With reduced curfews, the business will get a good boost, ”the agency said. Hoteliers said that 85% of dine-in takes place in the evening and that with shorter times, visitor frequency is lower.
HRA Gujarat also tried to raise the maximum number of guests at weddings to at least 500. The government’s decision to raise the limit for guests at weddings and other social gatherings to 400 was a huge relief, especially for caterers and hoteliers.
Somani said the hospitality and banqueting industry had reported a business loss of Rs 2,000 crore due to the pandemic. The decision will bring much-needed relief to the wedding industry and do business to several small merchants associated with the business.
Gujarat: restaurateurs welcome curfew; Wedding industry enthusiastic | Ahmedabad News
