Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) said that hotels across the board are likely to see a 20 percent cut in room rates, reported Indo Asian News Service.

Rajindera Kumar, vice-president of FHRAI said that with terror attacks hitting the tourism season in India, the hospitality industry is offering hefty discounts of up to 25 percent and throwing in attractive sops to boost demand.

In Delhi, five-star tariffs are being quoted at 150 to 360 U.S. dollars, down from the 240 to 480 U.S. dollars range this time last year. Discounts at mid-range hotels could be heftier, industry sources said.

Delhi-based The Claridges Hotels and Resorts group has decided to introduce a "Global Meltdown Tariff" to sustain business. The hotel has revised current rates downward by 25 percent.

One source from consultancy firm HVS International said that high-end leisure destinations will suffer a decline of 15-20 percent.

Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) president Vijay Thakur said that Mumbai is a major point of entry and there have been a very high number of cancellations since the attacks. "It has hit us right in the middle of the peak season," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2008)