HAI commends the proactive initiative taken by the Bihar State government in unveiling the Tourism Policy 2023. The State expects to receive Rs 10,000 crore in investment over the next five years, and one lakh new jobs will be generated in the tourism sector.
The Hotel Association of India, the apex body of the Indian hospitality sector, applauds the Bihar State government’s decision to adopt and announce Tourism Policy 2023 in order to attract investment and increase tourists’ footfall to the State. According to the new policy, the State expects to receive Rs 10,000 crore in investment over the next five years, and one lakh new jobs will be generated in the tourism sector.
This will facilitate the rapid establishment of tourist infrastructure, boost tourism in the state leading to promotion of inclusive development. The policy incentivizes tourism units-hotels, tour operators and other tourism stakeholders. The incentives in additions to subsidies on capital investment, are several and include reimbursement of all land conversion/transfer charges, of Stamp duty and registration fees of land lease, incentive of repayment of GST paid, refund of power taxes. The policy also encourages tourism units to apply for green certification by reimbursing costs of certifications to an extent. The costs of organising events and meetings will be subsidised too.
Applauding the state government’s decision, M.P. Bezbaruah, Secretary-General, HAI, said, “HAI would like to congratulate the government of Bihar in joining the growing number of states to adopt a forward looking policy to provide incentives to the tourism and hospitality sector and to encourage investments in infrastructure. HAI has been persistently focussing on the immense potential of tourism to propel economic development and how this has remained largely under tapped.”
“We have advocated that providing the incentives as is given to other industries would unleash huge avenues for employment and GDP growth. We would also urge the government to ensure that the policy is quickly implemented and the benefits are passed on to the industry. There is no doubt that considering Bihar’s great tourism resources resultant growth of tourism will provide great economic benefits and spur inclusive development. HAI would also hope that government of India would take a decision soon to provide “infrastructure status” to hospitality sector so that necessary expansion of accommodation is facilitated to match the target of 100 m FTAs by 2047.”
