View: Tourism and hospitality need to be given industry status in Budget 2022

We all know that tourism and hospitality sector has been the worst hit and it is now the third year in a row with practically no revenues. We have lost talent, lost business, and everything is in a standstill. Even domestic tourism that shows some signs of recovery gets into a lean patch with every wave leaves everyone guessing what is coming next.

Investments in tourism are at an all-time low. If not now, then I feel there will never be a time when the tourism sector in this country will ever get its due.

Imagine the sector that generates 50 million jobs a year, contributes almost 10% to India's GDP, and forms the core of large indirect taxes, gets just Rs 2,000 crore in Budget allocation with no specific plan ever narrated by any Finance or Tourism minister on the plan.

Personally, I have huge expectations from this budget and the finance Minster, and hope they offer tourism and hospitality an industry status.

1. Declare tourism sector as a priority sector for the next 2 years and offer it industry status
2. Provide budget for loans with rates of interests as offered to industry, with flexibility of re-structuring the loans at least twice due to the lean cycles we observe every now and then. Offer tariffs which are at par with the industry if not lower
3. Provide tax concession to hotels and resorts in India to boost demand for domestic tourism and inbound tourism
4. Provide tax subsidy to travel agents who promote inbound tourism (FOREX earning agencies ) and offer them incentives on earning forex as exports sector
5. Create a budget to appoint several large PR companies globally to promote Product INDIA with all its diversity and hospitality
6. Provide tax refunds to domestic travellers who spend large amount of their vacation budgets in India.
7. Offer a financial tax support to Corporates/associations who conduct their meetings and events in India
8. Offer direct financial support up to Rs 1,000 crore for all global companies/associations and world bodies who conduct their events, conferences and exhibitions in India
9. Announce a state of art skill development institute on the lines of IIM which will be India’s first Tourism University offering various courses.
10. Reduce Haulage on Luxury trains and offer tax subsidy on operating more luxury and Bharat Gaurav trains in India.

(The writer is Managing Director- EbixCash Travel & Holidays)