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AIRLINES
10% service tax imposed on all class of air
tickets under review; TAFI goes to finance ministry
The
union budget 2010-11 has
imposed a flat 10 per cent service tax on the base
fare of air tickets for all classes of domestic and international flights.
Speaking at a post-budget seminar, V Sridhar, chairman, Central Board of
Excise and Customs (CBEC) has indicated that CBEC is in dialogue with air
carriers on the issue and should arrive at a rate that is not excessive.
Travel Agents Federation of India has already sent a communication to the
finance minister to charge a lower service tax at source. “This otherwise
will make the cost of air travel expensive and will hit the industry hard,”
informed Pradip Lulla, president, TAFI.
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ASSOCIATION
ADTOI convention to discuss US case study on
inter-state tourism growth potential
The fourth annual convention of ADTOI will strive to drive insight into
potential growth opportunity that the domestic tourism presents in India
through inter-state tourism’s success story in the US post 9/11 attack.
Catherine Greteman, chairman, National Tour Association, USA has been
invited as the guest speaker at the convention to share the policies
ascribed to domestic tourism’s success in the USA. “It was the domestic
tourism that came to the rescue and was a roaring success in sustaining
tourism growth in the US despite inbound being badly hit after 9/11”, said
Rakesh Lamba, president, ADTOI.
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EXHIBITION
GITB 2010 exhibition space completely sold out
Designed to promote India as an inbound destination, the Great India Travel
Bazaar (GITB) 2010 has already received confirmed registration of 200
foreign buyers this year which is further expected to increase. In the
previous two editions in 2008 and 2009, the event had 178 foreign buyers
from 45 countries and 168 foreign buyers from 42 countries respectively at
GITB 2009. The event has also, for the first time, incorporated the concept
of theme state, a slot already booked by Uttarakhand.
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HOTELS
Investment-linked deduction extended to new
hotels of 2-star category and above
The
union budget 2010-11 has proposed investment-linked incentives for building
and operating new hotels of two-star and above category in India. This comes
into force from April 1, 2010. According to the proposed incentive, 100 per
cent deduction with respect to capital expenditure will be offered for the
construction of such hotels, provided such expenditure is incurred prior to
commencement of operations and the amount is capitalised in the books of
such undertaking.
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Four-month extension provided for hotels in
NCR to claim tax holidays
With a view to
further boost the accommodation shortage in the run-up to Commonwealth Games
2010, the union budget 2010-11 has provided a four-month extension to hotels
and convention centres in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the
specified surrounding regions. Earlier, allowed till March 31, 2010, such
hotels and convention centres, which set up and commence operations on or
before July 31, 2010, would now be eligible to claim the specified tax
holidays.
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Hilton Worldwide brings its full service
brand Hilton to Delhi
Hilton Worldwide
recently announced that it has opened the Hilton New Delhi/Janakpuri. The
228-guestroom property marks the arrival of the first and only
internationally branded full service, upscale property in West Delhi. The
ten-storey hotel comprises 228 rooms including 11 suites and 900 sq m Grand
Ballroom. Located approximately 30 minutes’ drive from central Delhi at the
doorstep of Janakpuri West Metro station, the property is strategically
close to the international and domestic airports.
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MOT
MOT to organise fourth inter-state regional
meet for western region on March at Goa
The fourth inter-state regional
conference is being organised for the western states and UT administrations,
which include Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Daman
& Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli on March 6, 2010 at Goa. The conference will
serve as an ideal platform to deliberate on several issues and the
bottlenecks coming in the way of the effective growth of tourism sector in
the region. Kumari Selja, Union minister of tourism will inaugurate the
conference.
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Foreign tourist arrivals in India up by 9.9% in
January
The foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs)
during February 2010 have registered a growth of 9.9 per cent at 6.01 lakh
as compared to FTAs of 5.47 lakh during the month of February 2009. The
foreign exchange earnings (FEE) in US$ terms during the month of February
2010 were US$ 1434 million as compared to FEE of US$ 923 million during the
month of February 2009. The growth rate in FEE in US$ terms in February 2010
over February 2009 is 55.4 per cent as compared to the growth of (-) 29.3
per cent in February 2009 over February 2008.
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Bihar registers 414 thousand foreign tourist
arrivals in 2009
The statistics available with the Bihar
State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) reveal that the foreign
tourist arrivals (FTAs) are up by 20 per cent for the year 2009 at 414
thousand mark over and above the 345 thousand in 2008. It is an
extraordinary performance, especially because when the whole world had been
falling, a less explored destination Bihar had gained foot print in the
global tourism market by renewing and rebuilding major tourist attractions
in private public partnership mode.
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STATE
Andhra Pradesh launches Approach Paper on
rural tourism for travel trade
Andhra Pradesh
has launched an Approach Paper for rural tourism to educate tour operators
and travel agents so as to enable them to market rural tourism products most
effectively. Further, for promotion of rural tourism and marketing it both
at the domestic and international level, the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) will
take initiatives at the centre to have better inter-ministerial
coordination. The rural tourism project in India presently includes 158
rural sites in 28 states. Lately, AP had organised a two-day National Rural
Tourism workshop in Hyderabad on February 23, 2010.
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OBITUARY
Industry veteran Naqshband passes away
Ghulam
Naqshband, known as a travel guru, who was an industry veteran, passed away
on March 5. His sad demise has taken away a real doyen and pioneer of the
travel industry. Born in 1922, Naqshband was one of the oldest surviving
veteran, who was a through professional still active even in his old age.
He was Chairman Emeritus, LPTI, at the time of his death. Starting his
career with Sah and Rai, as sales manager, he, along with Inder Sharma, was
instrumental in building SITA World Travel into a world-class company.
A bachelor, Naqshband was fluent in French and was one of the founders of
Alliance Franchises in India. He had set up Caravan of India society to
promote communal harmony, among other things. He played a very important
role in the SKAL Club and in the ICCA, to promote conventions and congress
business. Known for his frank views, he was devoted to work. His other
interests included wine and art. His personal collection of art was admired
by many.
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