Tour operators, hotels allowed to import cars, SUVs under SFIS

In a move likely that is likely to be cheered by the hospitality sector, government today allowed hotels and tour operators to import cars and SUVs under the Served from India Scheme (SFIS).

"I am allowing use of SFIS scrips for import or domestic procurement of motor cars, SUVs, all purpose vehicles for hotel, travel agents, tour operators, companies owning/ operating golf resorts for tourist purposes," Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma.

Announcing the supplementary Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) for the fiscal, he said this is being done to encourage export of services, especially in the tourism sector.

The FTP document said the SFIS scrips can be used for payment of import duties.

The service providers are entitled to duty credit scrips under SFIS at the rate of 10% of free foreign exchange earned during a financial year.

However, Sharma said the entitlement would now be calculated on the basis of net free foreign exchange earned (meaning after deducting foreign exchange spent from the total foreign exchange earned during the financial year).

However, users of the scrip to import vehicles will be required to submit proof of registration for tourism purposes within 6 months.

Further, these vehicles will not be allowed to be imported under EPCG scheme, Sharma added.

In another step to facilitate import of motor vehicles, the FTP said the import of cars and vehicles will also be allowed at Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Faridabad and Ennore Port.