Budget Expectations: Thomas Cook wants infra status for tourism industry

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Budget Expectations: Thomas Cook wants infra status for tourism industry

The travel and tourism Industry in India is truly handicapped, says Madhavan Menon, Managing Director of Thomas Cook (India).

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The travel and tourism Industry in India is truly handicapped, says Madhavan Menon, Managing Director of Thomas Cook (India). "Be it multiple taxation to varying tax levels imposed by State governments, the inbound business into India is rendered both expensive and challenging," he told moneycontrol.com.

He says reforms are a must and proposes the following:

• The Tourism industry should be given industry, export and infrastructure status, to boost the tourism industry
• Exemption of Service tax for Inbound Tour Operators, for a minimum of 3 years
• Inclusion of ATF in 'Declared Goods' list for uniform taxation
• Abolition of Fuel Surcharge to make air travel affordable within the country
• Rationalisation of state transport taxes
• Recommendation for the formation of a National Commission for Tourism under the leadership of the Prime Minister
• Any policy change - for example, increase in taxes - should have a window of minimum 1 year. Foreign Agents publish brochures a year in advance and it becomes difficult to collect supplements from customers after brochures are printed for worldwide circulation.