Hotel and restaurant costs will go up by about 25%. The decision was taken after a Hotel Associations of India meeting in Agra.

Hotel proprietors stated that they have been forced to raise the prices of the rooms, whereas restaurant owners added that food prices have increased considerably.

Some restaurant owners also stated that the increase in rates will lead to a fall in the number of local tourists, and added that during the Commonwealth Games, only foreign tourists be capable of affording the increased costs.

Nandi Gupta, a restaurant owner said, "The chances of tourists coming during the Commonwealth Games are decreasing. People will feel that the hotel charges are expensive. That is why there will not be many customers."

The constant inflation has left very few alternatives to hotel and restaurant proprietors.

Mahaveer Singh Nathawat, President of Tourism Welfare Society of Rajasthan, said, "There is no solution to this other than increasing the rates. Until and unless you do not increase the price, you would not be able to earn money and eat food."

Officials of the Guide Associations stated that such situations asked for new plans from the administration that would permit tourism grow. (With Inputs from Agencies)