Gyors és dühös válasz India turisztikai segélycsomagjára

Hon. National Treasurer Shreeram Patel stated that TAAI had appealed to the government to grant an income tax holiday for its employees as well as member agencies for the next 5 years. Additionally, a moratorium for all its employees and members for 2 years on all their EMIs/interest was requested.

Although the Hon. Finance Minister has granted free one-month tourist visas until March 31, 2022, or 500,000 visitors, this shall only be feasible and a win-win situation if general sales tax is waived for international tourists and if interstate GST credit is permitted for stakeholders so that when flights commence, they are able to welcome international tourists to India. Furthermore, the infrastructure, safety, and hygiene to handle international tourists due to COVID-19 is still not up to par with global standards.

MORE VOICES WEIGH IN

Joint Managing Director of Creative Travel and Past Senior Vice Present of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) and Vice Chairman of ICPB, Rajeev Kohli, said: “The tourism-focused announcements are very welcome. This is a step in the right direction. We, however, do request that the sum of Rs 10 lakhs be increased. The industry has been damaged very deeply, and we need greater support not only to survive but to work on recovery. On the visas, a very good gesture, but let us show the world the true spirit of Atithi Devo Bhava and make it free for all till December 2022. Happy to see the guides getting something, but they need more as well. Today’s announcements are a positive start for sure, but more assistance is needed very quickly to help with our recovery.”

President of IATO, Mr. Rajiv Mehra, stated: “We are grateful to the Honorable Prime Minister and Honorable Finance Minister for giving some relief to the tourism industry including 5 lakh free visas applicable till March 31, 2022, whenever visas are open, and we are grateful to the Honorable Tourism Minister for supporting the industry, giving relief to the affected sector including tour operators and registered tourist guides in the tourism sector. IATO thanked the government for considering loans to the tour operators and the guides but requested that the government should also consider giving one-time financial grants to all recognized tour operators.”

Past President of the Tourist Guides Federation of India, Mr. Ashok Sharda, said: “The decision by the Tourism Ministry to provide some financial assistance to regional guides and exempt visa fee to first 5 lakh tourists is a welcomed step. Regional guides who have been unemployed for the last 15 months were hoping for some relief from the ministry. It may not be substantial but good to know that we have not been orphaned.”

Expressing satisfaction on this move of the government, Ms. Ekta Watts, Executive Committee member of the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) and Chairperson of women empowerment CSR activity and LEO Initiator, said: “A very positive step by Finance Ministry to announce financial support for the tourism sector under reviving tourism scheme. The distress in the travel trade is acknowledged and given an action for them to revive back. This surely is appreciated and a long-awaited move by the government which will definitely give travel industry revitalization.”

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