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New Delhi, May 6 - Tourists coming to Delhi to witness the 2010 Commonwealth Games will be provided comforts of a homely environment, tour operators said here Saturday.
'Our recommendation to allow tourists to stay in homes during the upcoming Commonwealth Games has been given the nod by the central government and a notification will be issued soon,' said Subhash Goyal, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO).
Residents who would volunteer to spare a room would be provided a registration number after being reviewed by a committee.
The committee will comprise top officials of the tourism ministry, members from IATO, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India and top licensing officials of Delhi Police.
'The committee will inspect their place and relevant information about them will be made available on the tourism ministry and IATO websites. A dedicated site will also be developed for the purpose,' Goyal told IANS on the sidelines of a tour operators' meet.
Tourists can book rooms directly by contacting the house owner or tour operators.
'I think it will go a long way in solving the accommodation problem in Delhi during the mega event,' said Ravi Kalra, joint secretary of IATO.
Speaking about the current trend of charging 4.89 percent of service tax from the operators booking rooms for their clients, Kalra said they have consulted all authorities concerned without much success.
'We are discussing legal options and may take authorities to court,' said Kalra.
The tour operators have also approached central Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy and his deputy Ajay Maken about sealing of their offices in residential areas.
'We need to be given respite like doctors and chartered accountants to operate from residential areas,' said Rajesh Mudgill, managing director of Delhi-based Planet Holidays.
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