Puri: In a major relief to tourism and services sector, the hotels in Puri have reopened while following the COVID-19 guidelines.
More than 100 hotels have reopened providing accommodation for 30 per cent of their room capacity. The big hotels have sanitised the entire premises before opening as per the government instructions.
Though very few guests have checked in these hotels with train and bus services to the Pilgrim Town remaining suspended, the employees heaved a sigh of relief as the hotels opened after remaining closed for three months. Around 20,000 families depend on hotel industry in the town, according to sources.
Stating that the opening of the hotels is an encouraging sign for the industry, secretary of Puri Hotel Association Raj Kishore Patra said tourists have started booking the rooms. He hoped that the hotel booking will pick up after trains and buses resume normal services.
The hotels and in-house restaurants are following the COVID-19 regulations including wearing masks, and social distancing strictly, Patra claimed.
