Andhra Hotels Urge Licence Fee Relief for 3-Star Category

Speedy Summary

• The Andhra Pradesh Hotels and Restaurants Association met Principal Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena in Amaravati on Wednesday to discuss extending the benefits of Go.Ms.No.131, issued on April 26, 2025.
• Currently, the order benefits only hotels classified as 3-star and above, wiht a reduced annual license fee of ₹25 lakh.
• The delegation highlighted that many non-classified hotels, which provide similar amenities and service quality as higher-classified ones, are excluded from these benefits.
• They argued that non-classified hotels support thousands of jobs, serve large customer bases annually, and contribute significantly to state tax revenues while investing heavily in infrastructure improvements.
• The association proposed extending the ₹25 lakh licence fee structure to eligible non-classified hotels and simplifying licence renewal processes by avoiding restrictive lottery-based systems.
• principal Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena assured them that their proposal would be reviewed for possible consideration.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The request from the Andhra pradesh Hotels and Restaurants Association underscores the larger conversation around equity in regulatory frameworks governing hospitality services. Non-classified hotels seeking parity with larger establishments claim comparable contributions in terms of employment, revenue generation, consumer services, and adherence to government expectations for infrastructural upgrades-making their case logically strong within an economic perspective.

If approved by authorities like mr. Meena after careful examination of implications-extending reduced licence fees could encourage further investments within this segment while possibly boosting overall industry growth. However,balancing fiscal concerns against broader policy revisions will remain critical for ensuring enduring outcomes for all stakeholders involved.

read more: The Hindu