Tourism industry associations have individually and collectively met the Tourism Minister in the last few days with a set of demands in the wake of the total wash out of business.
Jytoti Mayal, President of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), one of the oldest industry associations, in the travel trade shared a set of demands put forward by a delegation of tourism industry associations to the Tourism Minister in Delhi this week. The memorandum seeks the following support from the government.
- A six to nine months’ moratorium on all principle and interest payments on loans and overdrafts / Deferment of GST & Advance Tax payments at the Central Government level and removal of fees for any upcoming licenses/permits renewal/ Excise exemption for liquor for the hospitality and travel industry across the states.
- 200% weighted exemption of expenses to corporates on all domestic conferences.
- A complete GST Tax Holiday for the Tourism, Travel & Hospitality Industry for the next twelve months till the time the recovery happens.
- Restoration of the SEIS scrips for duty credit of 10% to Tourism, Travel & Hospitality industry.
- Relaxation in the MDA terms.
- A national tourism task force of the Centre and the State which meets regularly and develops the revival plan and fast tracks investment approvals.
- Advisory to airlines to not levy cancellation fees/ issue full refunds or issue credit notes.
- Usage of the MNREGA funds to support salaries of employees in the Tourism, Travel & Hospitality industry till the time revival happens.
- Fast track all GST refunds for the industry wherever they are getting stuck.
- 300 basis point interest rate reduction and immediate transmission to the industry on term loans and working capital loans.
- The proposed TCS on travel in Finance Bill 2020 not to be introduced.
- Automatic increase in working capital limits by 50%.
- Removal of X-Visa requirement for peaks.
- Help from the Minister in taking a FAITH delegation for meeting with the Prime Minister.
FAITH meeting with Commerce Minister
Recently Commerce and industry minister held an urgent meeting only for all the manufacturing, metals, material and supply chain driven industries of India. FAITH requested an invite and managed to get a 20 second window to present its view and were the sole service sector present among all.
FAITH requested for immediate support on restoration of SEIS to 10%, MDA terms relaxation, complete GST holiday, incentive to boost domestic conferencing, national tourism task force, Moratorium on principal & loan repayments, export status for our industry , infrastructure status, deferment of GST & advance tax payments / waiver of all state excise and cesses / advisory to airlines on full cancellation / no TCS. / support on salary, ESIC & PF payments ….
In this moment of emergency existential crisis for tourism industry, FAITH plans to create opportunities for tourism to be heard at every forum even if it is not meant for tourism.
FAITH Meeting with Tourism Minister
FAITH (Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality) & all the member associations – (ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI IATO, IHHA, ITTA, ICPB, TAAI, TAFI) had a crisis response meeting with the tourism minister shared with him the complete MOT the following points to address the unprecedented crisis and prepare for a revival and readiness plan.
* A 200% weighted exemption of expenses to corporates on all domestic conferences.
* A six to nine months’ moratorium on all principle and interest payments on loans and overdrafts / Deferment of GST & Advance Tax payments at the Central Government level and removal of fees for any upcoming licenses/permits renewal/ Excise exemption for liquor for the hospitality and travel industry across the states.
* A complete GST Tax Holiday for the Tourism, Travel & Hospitality Industry for the next twelve months till the time the recovery happens.
* Restoration of the SEIS scrips for duty credit of 10% to Tourism, Travel & Hospitality industry.
* Relaxation in the MDA terms.
* A national tourism task force of the Centre and the State which meets regularly and develops the revival plan and fast tracks investment approvals.
* Advisory to airlines to not levy cancellation fees/ issue full refunds or issue credit notes.
* Usage of the MNREGA funds to support salaries of employees in the Tourism, Travel & Hospitality industry till the time revival happens.
* Fast track all GST refunds for the industry wherever they are getting stuck.
* 300 basis point interest rate reduction and immediate transmission to the industry on term loans and working capital loans.
* The proposed TCS on travel in Finance Bill 2020 not to be introduced.
* Automatic increase in working capital limits by 50%.
* Removal of X-Visa requirement for peaks.
