Ahead of the State budget of Goa, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has sought assistance from the Government for incentivising key aspects of the hospitality and tourism industry to make it competitive globally. In the pre-budget memorandum submitted to the Finance Minister and Chief Minister of Goa, the industry has appealed for revision of the current taxation system, subsidy on diesel for power generation and incentives for investing in waste management and re-cycling of waste.
“Tourism is the back bone of Goa’s economy, employing one-third of its population and contributing 50 per cent of the total collected revenues to the State coffers in terms of revenues from various sources. Goa’s tourism scene is challenged by tourism promoted by Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore and also some other Indian states. Unlike in other states and countries which have incentives in terms of lower taxation and lower interest rates that boost the tourism industry, the hospitality industry only seeks assistance from the Government to make it more competitive in market by lowering the cost of the product,” said Charles Bonifacio, Chairman, Goa sub-committee, HRAWI.
Among the key measures, HRAWI has suggested amendment to Tourism Trade Act and validity of certificates. The association has requested for a single window clearance that will allow establishments to bring uniformity in obtaining various licenses and certificates, pay fees annually and retain validity for five years. Presently, only the certificate of hotel classification issued by the Central Government has a validity of five years.
“Cleaning and regulating beach tourism is of utmost importance for a litter free and safe beach enjoyment experience. Unfortunately, this is another area of concern, which presently ranks somewhere in the bottom list of priorities. Besides this, we’ve also requested the administration to form either a co-operative or corporate body to regulate taxis and provide subsidy on taxi meters that will weed out any malpractices in fares being charged to tourists,” added Bonifacio.
The recommendations, if incorporated in the upcoming budget, will have the capacity to boost tourism and place Goa on the international map as one of the most sought after tourist destinations.
