With VoA, FTA will grow by 40-50%
While calling VoA for 180 countries a historical move, Subhash Goyal, President, IATO, says IATO is willing to support the government to help implement this move. IATO is also keen to promote the Buddhist circuit.
What is your reaction to VoA for 180 countries?
With a lot of lobbying, we have finally been successful first to get the 60 day re-entry restriction removed, secondly the group landing permit, and finally the VoA for 180 countries. This is a historical step. One of the biggest bottlenecks for inbound tourism was visa hassles. Now, inbound tourism should grow at least by 40-50 per cent, if not 100 per cent. This would result in new hotels coming up, thousands of jobs
We have taken a decision to look at Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka for roadshows to promote the Buddhist circuit
being created and millions of dollars worth of foreign exchange coming in. However, we need to reduce discrimination against tour operators in service tax to make our country competitive. If an exporter earns foreign-exchange, he doesn’t pay service tax, but the tourism industry has to pay service tax. Tourism alone can offset the imbalance of foreign exchange payments that we have, plus it can also wipe out the current account deficit.
How will IATO as an organisation support the government’s VoA move?
We have sent a message to all our members that they should let us know whatever problems they face. All our active members are recognised by the MOT, we are major foreign- exchange earners, and we know what the actual problems are and what the foreign tour operators want. Based on our interactions, we are giving inputs to the government regularly and we will support the government in whatever way they want us to help implement this move. A lot of manpower has to be trained and we are willing to do this, not just for Delhi, but also for other gateway cities.
What about the impending IATO elections?
I have not given thought to the elections. I have a second term that is pending, but it all depends on what the public wants. I was reluctant to contest again, but a lot of members told me that VoA needs to be imple- mented; the service tax issue is still there, so the whole team should go in for a second term. If people want us for a second time, we’ll contest; and if they don’t want, we won’t contest.
The MOT now wants to organise roadshows to ASEAN countries to promote Buddhist trails. How is IATO working on that?
The Buddhist circuit is one of the most important circuits in our country. We are surrounded by countries that believe in Buddhism and we have a lot of monasteries and historical sites related to Buddhism. IATO has attended several meetings and given several suggestions. We have taken a decision to look at Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka for roadshows to promote the Buddhist circuit.