Seeks policy support for revival in Hospitality / Tourism sector
Senior representatives of the hotels and restaurants association of Andhra Pradesh (HRAAP) recently met the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern region of India, Mr. G Kishan Reddy and submitted a letter recommending points to help boost tourism in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
‘Due to the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hospitality industry we have recommended certain points to the minister of Tourism’ said HRAAP.
In the letter accessed by Vizag Industrial Scan, HRAAP has suggested the establishment of Parytak Bhavan, an India Tourism Office and an Institute of Hotel Management in Andhra Pradesh.
‘Andhra Pradesh requires the above 3 institutions exclusively for tourism promotion. The Andhra Pradesh government aggressively promotes tourism and perceives it as an employment creator. It is to complement the AP Tourism activities in an efficient manner the state requires these 3 facilities’ said the letter addressed to Mr. Kishan Reddy.
In addition they have asked for the revival of the Indian culinary institute at Tirupati. ‘ICT does not have a full time director and administrative officer. There is also no budgetary support from the government of India’ informed the letter.
Some of the other requests consisted of inclusion of tourism in the concurrence list, allocation of industry status to the Tourism sector, constituting a national tourism board and relief in taxes and statutory liabilities.
HRAAP also advocated for GST exemption for the sector in order revive Tourism in the country. ‘The government should consider 1 year GST exemption to travel and tourism so that service providers can offer services at a lower cost’ stated the letter.
Making an appeal to the GST council HRAAP suggested that all F&B revenue of hotels be delinked from their hotel room tariff slabs and be allowed to charge GST at 5% without ITC under the composite scheme and 12% GST with ITC.
Dr. S Prasanth, President HRAAP along with Mr MV Pavan Kartheek, State VP, HRAAP met the tourism minister and submitted the letter on behalf of HRAAP.
