Loading ...The travel and tourism industry in India is expected to generate Rs 282,970 crore of economic activity and this is expected to grow to) to Rs 947,270 crore by 2017. Demand is expected to grow by 8.7 per cent in 2007 and 7.9 per cent between 2008 and 2017
Ambika Soni is Minister for Tourism and Culture, said that Indians should be sensitised about tourism and its benefits he said the ministry was working on getting visa on arrival implemented soon and working with home ministry to offer this on a trial basis from a few identified countries as soon as work at Delhi and Mumbai airports is done, she also stated that there are security issues but once the advance passenger information system is in place there will be no problems.
The Soni said the Delhi government also stated that rooms used under the bed and breakfast scheme (in Delhi) will not be charged commercial rates, for water and power and will be exempt from VAT as well.
Travel packages to India will be a bit cheaper soon. There will be 75 per cent abatement of service tax on tour packages.
The current service tax is 12.2 per cent. The Budget, earlier this year, granted a five-year tax holiday on two, three and four star hotels being built in Delhi and NCR. Tax holidays will be offered to hotels coming up in various cities like Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Sravasti, etc.
This will all help the travel industry in India.
carguru
These figures indicate that the travel industry is booming in India as never before. The concerned minister is right when she says that Indians should be sensitized to tourism. “Visa on arrival” would be nice.