Exporter Status For Tour Operators Soon: Khurana

Tourism minister Madan Lal Khurana yesterday assured tour operators that they would soon be included in the category of exporters.

Speaking at the opening of the annual convention of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Khurana said both the commerce minister and he had "agreed in principle" that exporter status should be given to tour operators. He said that their joint note on the issue would be put up before the cabinet next month and he hoped that the proposal would be okayed too.

The tourism minister said that if tour operators succeeded in bringing in more tourists from abroad and thus make the country earn more foreign exchange, he would recommend to the finance minister to waive the 5 per cent service tax.

 

According to Khurana, the new tourism policy would now be submitted to the cabinet next month for the final approval.

About 50 cities have been selected based on their historic and cultural richness and efforts are on to improve the infrastructural facilities there apart from cleaning up their environment which is likely to give a boost to tourism, the minister said.

The minister disclosed that the foundation stone for Paryatan Bhawan, for which about 2.5 acre land had already been acquired near Cannuaght Place, will be laid next month.

Khurana said that the President had been approached for this purpose. Paryatan Bhawan will house under one roof all information and facilities needed by foreign and domestic tourists.

The minister also sought the cooperation of tour operators to make India tourism pleasant friendly for visitors.