Following the murder of Suhas Shetty and a wave of assaults, Mangaluru City police have heightened security, urging early closure of hotels, shops, and wine stores as a preventive measure. This move has severely impacted the hospitality and tourism sectors, say industry leaders.
Rajgopal Rai, honorary president of the Mangalore Hotel Association, noted that hotels running on lease or high rent are struggling to cope. With police mandating wine outlets to shut by 9:30pm—a time when their sales typically peak—businesses are seeing sharp declines. Restaurants and catering units are also suffering, as supply staff, often from surrounding areas like Bantwal, now hesitate to work late amid safety fears.
Dakshina Kannada hosts around 400 liquor establishments, 80 lodges, and numerous eateries. Non-vegetarian restaurants and bars report a 30–40% drop in revenue, vegetarian eateries face up to 20% loss, and lodges see a 40% fall in footfall, Rai said. Tax burdens further strain business owners.
Kudpi Jagadish Shenoy, head of the local hotels and restaurants association, confirmed a 25–30% dip in night-time operations, alongside a noticeable tourism slowdown.
NSUI leader Suhan Alva highlighted the fear among locals, especially college students, who now hesitate to venture out at night. He described police asking customers to vacate a restaurant at 9:30pm as “alarming,” lamenting that “Brand Mangaluru is becoming Bandh Mangaluru.”
Alva urged the police to ensure security without enforcing shutdowns, advocating for shops to stay open till 1am.
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