Tourism Minister P. Rajavelu on Thursday called for exemption from inter-State permit fees and entry taxes for small tourist vehicles to boost the growth in tourism sector.
Participating in the all-India Tourism Ministers’ conference held in New Delhi on Thursday, Mr.Rajavelu urged the conference to take a bold decision in this regard so as to encourage domestic tourism without border and entry restrictions and to integrate the Indian tourism market seamlessly.
Laying an emphasis on the rationalisation of tax structure in transport and hospitality sector, he pointed out that in Puducherry, there was no entry tax for tourist vehicles and luxury tax on hotel industry fully was exempted.
Pointing out that Puducherry was the legendary home of various saints, freedom fighters, ancient trade settlements from Rome and Greece, he said, “Now it is a spiritual powerhouse and the centre of a new emerging human consciousness and new ways of living.”
Describing Puducherry as a unique shopping destination, influenced by the East and the West, the Minister said it offered a plethora of handicrafts in leather, pottery, handmade paper, incense and antique colonial furniture.
Given an average growth of 8.5 per cent annually for tourism in the last five years, the government was giving a lot of importance to the sector, he said.
Mr.Rajavelu also pointed out that the government made tourism the main economic agenda, various projects have been planned under public private partnership mode, and budget allocation has been increased for tourism development. He added more counters had been set up at the entry points to provide entry permits for tourist vehicles and value added tax(VAT) has also been reduced for hotels and restaurants.
While listing out safety measures to visiting tourists, he said the Government engaged 70 Tourist Guards for tourist support and guide service. Under the ‘Hunar-Se-Rozgar-Tak’ skilling scheme, approximately 150 youngsters were trained and 70 per cent of them were now employed.
“We have planned to develop an online Statistics Information System wherein each hotel can upload the tourist arrivals any time,” said Mr.Rajavelu.
Welcoming the new initiatives of Union Tourism Ministry such as the development of five new theme-based tourist circuits, he said since Puducherry was established in the heritage corridor and pilgrimage circuit, the new initiatives would definitely help the Union Territory to further develop tourism.
