'GST a mixed bag for hotels, restros; rationalisation needed'

The goods and services tax (GST), which celebrated one year of rollout on July 1, has been a mixed bag for the hospitality and restaurant sector, and firms are expecting further rationalisation of the tax structure.

The initial days of GST were full of confusion, according to Garish Oberoi, president, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI).

"While the hospitality sector was under the impression that it will be kept under one slab, we found out that we were kept in all the slabs right from 0 to 28 per cent," Oberoi told PTI.

However, he said it is too soon to comment on the real impact and the sector will wait for further rationalisation of the GST mechanism.

"Overall, it has been a mixed bag and mostly not very positive for the industry," he added.

Oberoi further claimed that the implementation of GST lead to the industry losing some international high-end meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) business.

"No where in the world do you see a taxation rate at 28 per cent and once the system finally was put in place those business went to other locations," he added.

Even for the restaurant industry, he said, while the rate reduction to 5 per cent has been positive the input credit has affected many restaurants in the metros.

Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) president Dilip Datwani said there were many grey areas which caused uncertainties but were clarified and resolved over time by the GST council.

However, the high rate of 28 per cent continues to remain a concern and is expensive for both domestic and international tourists, he added.

"Tourists prefer travelling to our neighbouring countries, including Sri Lanka, Bhutan or even Thailand because they have lower taxes," said Datwani.

According to him, one of the major issues for the MICE segment has been the unavailability of input tax credit (ITC) benefit for the corporate sector.

Raj Rana, chief executive officer, South Asia, Radisson Hotel group, said, "For the hotel industry, we hope that the three brackets of tax currently in effect, will move to a single bracket."