The potential for heritage tourism is over ten-fold what it is now, and Maharaja Gajsingh II of Jodhpur, President, Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA), has called for incentives to be given to promote it.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of the executive committee of the IHHA in Pune, he said that heritage properties – from tea estates to old English bungalows — existed in every State and incentives should be given to promote heritage tourism.

“The State Government should set targets, and give incentives such as tax holidays and concessions,” Mr Gajsingh said. Pointing out that any traditional house with 8-10 rooms could become a heritage hotel, he added that greater number of heritage hotels will bring both direct and indirect benefits to the tourism industry.

As of today, 176 properties across the country, not including five-star or four-star heritage hotels, are registered with the IHHA. Rajasthan is the clear leader with 128, followed by Kerala with 15 and Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh with four each.

Mr Suresh Talera, Vice-President of the Jaipur-based IHHA said that the State Government can play an active role in promotion of heritage tourism citing the examples of Kerala and, more recently Gujarat. “Pune has lots of wadas from the Peshwa era which can be restored into five-room properties or so,” he said.

To promote heritage tourism in Maharashtra, the IHHA has proposed the setting up of a fund that will be made available at 6 per cent rate of interest for restoration of old properties, discounts in electricity tariffs, and luxury tax exemption for 20 years amongst other concessions.

> alka@thehindu.co.in

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