Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Dec 31: The imposition of night curfew during the most profitable time of the year has caused concern for businessmen, hotels, bar and restaurant owners, taxi owners and drivers.

The night curfew is going to hit hard on the hotel industry especially. It had faced huge losses during the first lockdown. Bar and restaurants get business only at night. The night curfew will cause loss to them.

Those who earn their living through taxis are also on the receiving end of the night curfew restrictions. Due to the night curfew they do not get passengers for long travel, who prefer to travel at night. Though the taxi owners of the border areas of Kerala and Karnataka have Kerala state permits, they cannot run the taxis due to restrictions at the border area.

Many residents of twin districts arrive back to native place for Christmas and New Year to spend time with family. Other people also plan their holidays during this time of the year. Business for the tourism sector will be at its peak during this time. The night curfew has curtailed all the revenue and hit the people connected with this industry hard.

Kudpi Jagadeesha Shenoy, president of Dakshina Kannada Hotel Owners’ association says, “We have suffered losses for two years. End of the current year and the beginning of the New Year are the boom times for us. Due to the imposition of night curfew, people stop venturing even in the evenings. This will have severe consequences on the hotel industry.”