Bring eVoA in UP to boost inbound
Sunil B Satyawakta, Chairman, TAAI-Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand Chapter, talks to about initiatives of the newly-launched chapter in Uttar Pradesh and how tourism can grow leaps and bounds in the state if eVoA facility is extended to the airports in UP.
Despite the presence of three international gateway airports like Lucknow, Varanasi and Agra, Uttar Pradesh is yet to see the light of eVoA, Sunil B.
Satyawakta, Chairman, TAAIUttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand Chapter said. According to Satyawakta, eVoA facility should be extended to airports in the state. “The facility as of now is available only to the passengers of diverted flights. Regular eVoA to all passengers arriving into the country through these airports is the urgent need of the hour. This will go a long way in boosting inbound tourism in the state,” he said. The eVoA facility is currently available at nine airports in India in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Thiruvanathapuram, Kochi and Goa.
Talking about TAAI chapter’s initiatives in Uttar Pradesh, he added, “The chapter was unveiled only in September 2014. We are aim- ing to act as a bridge between the travel trade and the government and increase the membership from the inherited number of 69 members. In September only last year, we took the initiative of approaching the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority with 19 points to improve the poor conditions at the International Terminal building at Lucknow before applying for User Development Fee (UDF) from October 1.”
During February end, TAAI- Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand Chapter will be holding a workshop on Service Tax for travel agents and tour operators at Lucknow. This will be conducted by Manish Gadia, Chartered Accountant from Mumbai along with Harmandeep Singh Anand, Secretary General, TAAI. They have already conducted about 10 such workshops in various cities. This shall be the first- of- its- kind in Uttar Pradesh, he pointed out.
Regarding the inter-state air service policy in the state, he pointed out, “The government is offering various concessions to air service providers by way of underwriting seats, rebate on VAT to non scheduled airlines, free landing and parking facility for initial three years on the air strips under the control of the state government. This shows the government’s enthusiasm in promoting tourism in the state. This will enable tourists to easily commute to the various places in the different parts of the state.” Taking into account the vast size of the state, this type of service will not only encourage business and economy but the transportation will also be much easier to distant places in UP. The service will especially benefit the tourists visiting the Buddhist Circuit here. Apart from this, cities like Jhansi, Agra, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Bareilly, Meerut, Allahabad, Lucknow etc. will be inter-connected as well as would be connected with other tourist spots, he added.
Regular eVoA to all passengers arriving into the country through these airports is the urgent need of the hour. This will go a long way in boosting inbound tourism in the state
Sunil B. Satyawakta Chairman, TAAI-Uttar Pradesh &
Uttarakhand Chapter