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The XIX annual IATO convention recently
concluded in Hyderabad highlighting one of the crucial issues
in the tourism industry that of dual tariff. Conversely, the
convention did focus on other important issues like transporting
taxes, adequate marketing strategy, MICE tourism, and open
sky policy. It was however, dual tariff, that Chandrababu
Naidu, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh promised to take up
with the central government and also assured that the state
would like to keep to the lowest rates as far as taxes are
concerned. The reason cited that dual tariff is one of the
major irritant that calls for collective and immediate attention.
“From airline tickets, hotel tariffs, monument entry
tickets and things like camera fee, there are dual tariffs
that at once marks us out as an unfriendly country. The sooner
this practice is eliminated, the better it will be for Indian
tourism,” said Maharaj Wahi, president, IATO.
Naidu disclosed that, “On behalf
of the industry, I will request the government of India to
remove service tax on tourism packages and abolish dual tariff.
We will surely consider the demands of transportation taxes
as it is a long pending demand. We will consider this immediately
so that I can compete with other states.”
He further addressed tour operators
that after all the deliberation, during the convention saying,
“All recommendations will be examined and we will ensure
that they are implemented with a true spirit to promote tourism.
All the recommendation will also be taken up with the government
of India.”
Wahi further added that, “We
had renewed the plea that tourism needs to be looked at as
an employment generating industry rather than an elitist activity.”
He further revealed that IATO in its new role would offer
its expertise in packaging and positioning tourism products
properly. However, while explaining the theme of the convention
‘Indian Tourism - On The Turnaround’ Wahi mentioned
that, “As the tourism industry is still reeling under
the aftermath of a number of adversities, we thought it would
be apt to look ahead and focus on the turnaround effect for
Indian tourism. The source of such optimism lies in the fact
that there have been signs of a turn around in the global
tourism industry. As figures collated by the World Tourism
Organisation (WTO) show the year 2002 recorded a healthy jump
in tourism growth.”
It was also reported that the high
level strategy group, headed by the planning commission member,
N K Singh has in its report submitted to the prime minister
recently very rightly has identified tourism as a thrust area
for generating new jobs. It has also suggested to develop
five or six world class tourism circuits. The report has also
underlined the need to upgrade international airports to world
class standards and improve connectivity to premier destinations
in the country.
The six business sessions articulated
valuable views on different critical topics like:
- ‘Trends and opportunities’
focussed on niche tourism not only as a trend but as a necessity
which was the need of the hour.
- ‘Marketing strategies for
growth’ discussed adequate strategies that require
to be adopted for marketing India. By adopting this method,
optimum results could be achieve with regards to targeted
growth in arrivals and also identify destinations and regions
that need further thrust.
- ‘Competitive transportation
system - key to tourism growth’ was an significant
session, that dealt with how a competitive transportation
system, be it air, surface or rail can enhance tourism.
The heavy inter-state transportation taxes were brought
into focus.
- ‘MICE tourism’ was also
identified as the upcoming future tourism product. The session
focussed on volume traffic that India can receive through
MICE tourism and with the growing popularity of this segment
of tourism, it is imperative that India improves facilities
and infrastructure for MICE tourism.
- ‘Look South’ focussed
on all southern states to showcase their products and update
tourism professionals on the new products and developments
that have taken place in their respective states.
There was also special sessions for
presentations by participating states like Delhi, Jammu and
Kashmir and Rajasthan. Surjit Singh Barnala, governor of Andhra
Pradesh, chaired the valedictory session.
Concluding the tourism minister of
Andhra Pradesh, T Srinivas Yadav while commenting on the success
of the event said, “The focus on promoting south India
as a composite tourist destination was discussed at length.
The outcome of the deliberations are encouraging and I hope
that this will be useful to promote India as a safe secure
and peaceful destination. Further, I would like to request
IATO to choose the state as one of the emerging capital of
India for increasing conventions in future since the response
has been overwhelming.”
- The Centre should take immediate steps to remove
dual tariffs and reduce the levies on ATF and Inland
Air Travel Tax (IATT) drastically to make India a
‘tourism friendly destination’.
- States must also lower sales tax on ATF to lower
domestic air travel.
- There should be closer government-industry cooperation
as also coordination between different sections of
the tourism industry for marketing tourism products
jointly.
- There is need to give a major push to intra-regional
tourism.
- It is imperative to develop world class international
airports across the country, efficient airport facilitation,
transfer facilities, tourism related-infrastructure
on a war-footing.
- Inter-state barriers on movement of tourist transportation
should be removed and entry tax levies should be brought
down to uniformly low levels.
- Any cut in levies should be passed on to the customer
to keep the overall product globally competitive
- A ‘respectable budget’ is a must for
meaningful tourism promotion.
- The Incredible India brand, developed for the first
time by the ministry of tourism, needs to be supported,
strengthened and sustained by all players in the tourism
industry.
- The potential for developing world class circuits
in the South has to be tapped primarily by the southern
States with the Centre playing a supporting role
- A focused, recallable central image of the product
has to be created a la God’s Own Country of Kerala
- NRIs should be encouraged to act as brand ambassadors
and active promoters of tourism in traffic originating
markets
- A mechanism needs to be built in for detailing
with crisis situations on an on-going basis.
|
Minister of state Bhavnaben Chikalia inaugurates the tourism
fair 2003 |
Chandrababu Naidu, CM, AP lights the ceremonial lamp |
Surjit Singh Barnala, governor of AP releasing `The best
of Hyderabad’ |
Rathi Vinay Jha, secretary tourism receives the `Hall
of Fame’ award |
United Colours of Tourism at the annual convention |
Jyoti Koul, senior reporter, Express Travel & Tourism
receives the `Best Travel Writer’ award from SS Barnala,
governor of AP |
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