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It also demanded extension of benefits and concessions to the heritage hotels at par with other industries.
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Gaj Singh, IHHA president and former ruler of Jodhpur, said the number of heritage hotels had gone up from 54 in 1993 to 120 in 2003.
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While the majority of the heritage properties were located in Rajasthan, the Madhya Pradesh government had taken the lead by approving a comprehensive heritage tourism policy.
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He said the Himachal Pradesh government would soon announce a separate policy for the heritage tourism promotion.
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of heritage tourism The Rajasthan government was yet to formulate a heritage tourism policy, he added.
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Gaj Singh said while the hotel sector had been given the industry status, the policy was yet to be implemented.
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Demanding the government patronage, he said 90 per cent of the heritage hotels were located in rural areas and were dependent on foreign tourists.
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He said heritage hotels in Rajasthan were started with an aim to preserve and revive rich heritage and promote tourism.
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The heritage hotel scheme had created good interest among tourists and could become a major revenue earner with the patronage of the state governments, he added.
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Gaj Singh stressed a fresh look on sales tax, luxury tax, land conversion charges, land and building tax, house tax and improvement of roads leading to the heritage hotels.
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He also demanded a single-window facility for new and existing projects.
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Randhir Vikram Singh, IHHA secretary-general, said various castles, forts, palaces and traditional havelis had been converted into hotels, but maintaining the old structure was cumbersome and expensive. He demanded rebates to such hotels.
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He also demanded a separate bar and wine licence policy for the heritage hotels.
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Gaj Singh said the Centre had recognised heritage hotels as a separate category and categorised them in
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