Question : HOTEL PROJECTS

(a) the existing norms/guidelines under which requests for hotel projects and their classification status are presently processed in the country;

(b) whether there is any proposal to amend these norms to bring in more transparency in granting approval for hotel projects and classifying hotels in the country;

(c) if so, the details and the current status thereof; and

(d) the extent to which the process of scruitiny and finalisation is likely to expedite the clearance of such projects in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. K. CHIRANJEEVI)

(a): As per the existing Guidelines of the Ministry of Tourism for the Approval of Hotels at Project Stage and Classification/Re-classification in the Country, applications complete in all respects are considered for grant of approval/classification/reclassification. These guidelines are already posted on the official website of the Ministry of Tourism i.e. www. tourism.gov.in.

(b) to (d): In order to bring in transparency and accountability in granting approvals for hotel projects and providing classification/reclassification status to the functional hotels, the Ministry of Tourism has launched a Web Based System. With the help of this system, all applicants seeking hotel project approvals and hotel classification/reclassification will be able to track the progress of their cases online on a real time basis. The Ministry of Tourism endeavours to communicate the final decision within 90 days of the receipt of application complete in all respects for Hotel Project approvals, classification/reclassification.