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UNESCO to issue guidelines for hotels in heritage sites

Anupama Sushil - New Delhi

After this year's budget announced five-year tax holidays for two, three and four-star hotels near UNESCO-certified World Heritage sites, UNESCO, the body that analyses and works for cultural harmony at these sites, has decided to issue strict architectural guidelines for the properties that will come up.

Speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, Mandip Singh Soin, member of PATA (India Chapter), said that UNESCO and CII together have decided to write to the ministry of tourism to evolve these guidelines, and also form a one-point local committee involving private, government and municipal players and other local players, who can oversee the development at these sites. "While these benefits will boost tourism at these sites, we must ensure that these valuable spots are not run over by too many tourists," he asserts.