‘Fee cuts to boost tourism’

Pointing out to the revised visa fee and GST rates, Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State (I/C), Tourism and Culture, claims that the current environment in India is most favourable for both inbound and domestic tourists.

Nisha Verma

On September 27, 2019, India played host to the UNWTO World Tourism celebrations, where M Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India, gave away the prestigious National Tourism Awards in 21 categories. Speaking on the occasion, Prahlad Singh Patel said, “Every year, on September 27, we celebrate World Tourism Day and it was the first time that India got the opportunity to host the celebrations. We are fortunate that the Secretary General of UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, came all the way for the occasion. A total of 82 international delegates attended the event, and we are proud to host them in our country.”

Today, India is one country in the Asian continent that has one of the lowest tax slabs; this would further boost tourism

Congratulating the winners of the National Tourism Awards, he said, “Everyone who is a part of this industry, from a guide or driver to a tour operator or hotel executive, is important and makes a huge contribution to a tourist’s experience and hence needs to be felicitated. They represent the nation and key to changing the perception of India.”

Patel reiterated that in the last 100 days of the new government, some of the most historical decisions were taken, which hadn’t been done for the last 40 years. “Right from increasing the validity of e-Visa, relaxation in e-Visa fee, opening of new peaks and the biggest step, to change the GST slab for hotels, all these are historical decisions. Today, India is one country in the Asian continent that has one of the lowest tax slabs. This would boost tourism,” the minister shared.