Covid-19 scare: Kolkata hotels feel pinch as Bangladeshis check-out amid restrictions

Several hotels and restaurants located in downtown New Market area of the city have been left high and dry as Bangladeshis -- their mainstay clientle-- have stopped coming following suspension of visas in the wake of coronavirus crisis, industry sources said on Tuesday.

Occupancy rates in these hotels have drastically fallen after Bangladesh nationals who came here for medical treatment have started leaving, and the hoteliers and restaurant owners are finding difficulties to sustain operations, they said.

"Average occupancy levels in hotels in the New Market area where most of the Bangladeshis prefer to stay have declined by 90 per cent, while in Park Street, it has come down by 30 per cent," Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) secretary Sudesh Poddar told PTI.

A manager of Hotel Kempton, located in Marquis Street in New Market area, said that its occupancy has fallen from 95 per cent to five per cent as Bangladeshis have stopped coming here and those staying as guests have started leaving, after suspension of visas by the Centre amid the growing coronavirus threat.

The Centre had suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 to prevent the spread of the disease. India-Bangladesh passenger train services between Kolkata and cities in the neighbouring country have been suspended from Sunday as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19.

A manager with Hotel Astoria, located in Sudder Street, said its revenue has already been badly affected with the gradual decline of occupancy in the last few days. Domestic travellers are also cancelling their bookings and becoming risk-averse following the virus scare, hoteliers said.

Most of the Bangladeshis who come to the city for treatment at various private hospitals prefer to stay in and around New Market where cuisines palatable to their tastes are also available.

Popular Bengali restaurant 'Kasturi' which serves Bangladeshi cuisines is also feeling the heat of dwindling business.

"We are having no customers for the last few days. In normal times, our New Market outlet remains almost full. Most of our customers used to be Bangladeshis," an official of the restaurant said.

Poddar said the HRAEI will appeal to the state for granting more relaxation in terms of payment of property tax, electricity duty and excise license fees.

He said the association will seek a waiver of GST for the next six months and interest payments for loans taken from banks.