Andhra hoteliers urge govt intervention on commercial LPG amidst fears of supply disruption

'The hospitality industry plays a crucial role in supporting the tourism ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh, especially in cities such as Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati and other major destinations', their letter stated.

Hyderabad: Hoteliers from Andhra Pradesh have urged immediate government intervention into the possible commercial LPG crisis amid the ongoing West Asia crisis that could spiral into a major fuel crisis.

Representatives of Andhra Pradesh Star Hotels Association (ASHA) wrote to state civil supplies minister, Nadendla Manohar on Tuesday and sought guidance to facilitate coordination with LPG distributors and concerned authorities in the state to ensure reasonable and uninterrupted availability of Commercial LPG Cylinders for the hospitality sector in the state.

“At the outset, we sincerely appreciate the Government of India's commitment to ensuring uninterrupted LPG supply to households across the country. Protecting domestic consumers is indeed a matter of national importance and public welfare. At the same time, we humbly submit that the hospitality sector - comprising star hotels, resorts, catering establishments, and food service outlets - depends significantly on Commercial LPG Cylinders for daily operations, particularly in food preparation and guest services. The hospitality industry plays a crucial role in supporting the tourism ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh, especially in cities such as Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati and other major destinations, where uninterrupted hospitality services are essential for serving both domestic and international visitors,” said ASHA state president, Ramisetty Veeraswamy.

He added following the government of India's order, several hospitality establishments are receiving indications from LPG distributors regarding possible constraints in the supply of Commercial LPG Cylinders, which has created growing concern within the industry. Any prolonged disruption in Commercial LPG supply could significantly impact hotel kitchens, restaurants, catering services, banquets, conferences and tourism-related operations. This may indirectly affect visitor experiences, employment in the hospitality sector and the local economy dependent on tourism and hospitality activities, he added.

He also reminded that Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has already taken up this matter with the Government of India at the national level.