GST rejig big relief for hospitality industry: Hoteliers body

The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) today said the GST Council's decision to cut tax rate for restaurants to 5 per cent without input tax credit comes as a big relief for the industry.
The government has also decided that restaurants in starred-hotels will charge 18 per cent tax with input tax credit
"We are very happy with new GST slab announcement for restaurants. Our proposals were considered with due importance and this announcement is a big relief for the hospitality sector," HRAEI President Sudesh Poddar said in a release.
In the biggest GST rejig yet, tax rates on over 200 items, ranging from chewing gum to chocolates, to beauty products, wigs and wrist watches, were yesterday slashed to provide relief to consumers and businesses amid economic slowdown.

The decision was taken at the GST council's 23rd meeting at Guwahati.