The Iranian Hoteliers Association has voiced strong support for the plan to introduce a double-rate pricing system for hotel rooms maintaining that it will lead to greater customer satisfaction.
The scheme involves setting prices at foreign exchange for inbound tourists and at the rial currency for domestic guests in order to prevent confusion in the wake of rapid forex fluctuations.
Despite its advantage, the idea could disrupt the decline in the overall costs of a trip to Iran following the depreciation of the rial that has offered hopes of encouraging more tourists to travel to the country.
Jamshid Hamzezadeh, president of the hoteliers association, however, dismissed the concern explaining that the rule will only include independent travelers, ILNA reported.
"For those who travel by tour, room rates will be calculated according to the former system [which was rial-based]," he said, assuring that the law is not designed to be enforced for tour operators.
He claimed that, on the contrary, the double rating system will be more in the interest of foreign guests as it will not allow violators to overcharge them by manipulating exchange rates.
"Tourists' dissatisfaction after they figure out the rip-off could convey a negative image of Iran," he said.
Hamzezadeh also assured that double rating will not affect hotels' prioritization of guests for reservation at times of high demand.
"Priority is always given to those who book earlier," he said.
Annual Price Rise
Referring to the annual increase in room prices, the official said it will most probably be lower than the rate of inflation this year.
"Normally, we raise the prices each September based on inflation rates but it will be different this year."
In the past few years, the inflation rate was around 10% to 12% but it has exceeded 50% this year, referring to unofficial estimates of the economic indicator.
"Regarding this rate as a basis for setting the prices will cause challenges for us given the economic conditions of our own people."
He said the association aims to introduce a moderate rise and has proposed a 20% increase.
"This should be a general policy for all hotels, although they will be free to offer smaller increases and even discounts," he said.
The decision will be finalized after a session next week, according to Hamzezadeh.
