As per directives from the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, a two-member delegation of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) comprising of the association’s President, Rajiv Mehra and Vice President, Ravi Gosain met the Tourism Minister, G. Kishan Reddy on May 19 to apprise him about the challenges being faced by the inbound tourism sector and immediate initiatives needed to be implemented for its revival.
Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India was also present at the meeting.
Mehra said, “We were given a very patient hearing and honourable Tourism Minister assured to look into all our concerns including the issues related with the other ministries like Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Culture.”
The various issues discussed by the IATO’s leadership included the following:
· Marketing and promotions, participation in major international travel marts/fairs, roadshows, fam trips for foreign tour operators, overseas marketing and promotions through electronic and print media.
· Officials of the Ministry of Tourism should be deputed in 20 missions where Tourism Officers have been appointed and, in those countries, where India tourism offices were located earlier and have been closed.
· MDA Scheme should be re-instated and made operational.
· Guidelines regarding incentives to tour operators under Champion Services Sector Scheme for enhancing tourist arrivals to India be revised.
· For the implementation of the Draft National Tourism Policy in its true spirit, the Ministry should constitute an inter-ministerial committee of all the related Ministries headed by the Secretary, Tourism.
· Substantial funds should be allocated to the Ministry of Tourism.
· Airfares to be reduced by reducing taxes on ATF by the centre and the State Governments.
· Rationalization of GST on Tourism.
· Benefit of SEIS scheme should be continued for the tour operators for next 5 years under new Foreign Trade Policy. The admissible rate of SEIS needs to be hiked from 5% to 10%. If the Government decides to discontinue, any other alternative scheme should be introduced for giving incentives to the tour operators in place of SEIS.
· Tax Refund for Tourists (TRT) Scheme should be implemented.
· E-Tourist Visa for the international travellers from the countries such as the UK, Canada, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain among others needs to be restored.
· Validity of 5 lakh free tourist visas to be extended till March 2024.
Earlier, IATO had written to the Prime Minister raising all its concerns to help the inbound tour operators in their efforts to revive the inbound tourism business.