Crumbling mansions into hotels?

The issue,among other things,would figure in the general body meeting of the Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA) slated in the city this weekend.

“After the meeting,we will appeal to the State Government to work out ways and means of promoting conservation in Goa and push heritage tourism wherever feasible,” Ajit Sukhija,IHHA’s executive member,said.

“A push by the government will help in preservation of heritage houses,many of which are in bad shape due to family dispute and other related issues,” he added.

Sukhija himself has converted his 1888-built ancestral house at Fountainhas into a heritage hotel,’Panjim Inn’,located in the heart of the city.

He owns two more old buildings which also have been converted into heritage properties and are run commercially.

The IHHA meet would be chaired by Maharaja Gajsingh of Jodhpur,who owns a chain of heritage hotels.

Sukhija said the government should bring out a financial package for heritage hotel owners,which will get them much-needed monetary assistance.

“The owners should make sure that their business is self sustainable. You cannot expect government to dole out subsidy every time,” he said.

IHHA feels that government officers,while on official visits,should be made to stay in heritage hotels rather than in five-star resorts,Sukhija said.

The association has 162 properties spread over several states like Rajasthan,Himachal Pradesh,Kerala,Goa,Uttar Pradesh,and also the northeast region.