As Kodagu unlocks, hotel industry faces labour shortage

Many workers who returned to their hometowns before lockdown are not returning, having found jobs locally

As Kodagu, one of the popular tourist destinations in South India, is finally unlocked, the pandemic-hit hotel industry that was keenly waiting for the curbs to be eased for resuming business is now facing labour shortage. Several workers who migrated to their hometowns before the lockdown are unlikely to come back. Sources in the industry said nearly 50 per cent of the workforce who had gone back to their hometowns in April might not return as they have found jobs locally or migrated to other trades. They expressed unwillingness to come back when the hoteliers contacted them. This has led to worker shortage although it might not cause any immediate problem since hotels were resuming operations now. Speaking to The Hindu, Kodagu Hotels, Restaurants and Resorts Association President B.R. Nagendra Prasad said Kodagu was the lone district in the State under lockdown and the curbs were eased with the drop in positivity rate. “We hope normal life returns to Kodagu and the tourism economy is revived.”