REEMA LOKESH – New Delhi
The Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) plans to put forth the travel and tourism trade’s grievance related to the issue of application of service tax announced by the ministry of finance in the 2012 union budget. Apart from this, the association will also address the issue related to aviation fuel surcharge. Explaining this move Guldeep Singh Sahani, president, OTOAI, said, “Tour operators are being heavily taxed by the government and though we have already put up our proposal on the subject, we will continue to put up our grievances to the finance ministry. The tax on the aviation turbine fuel is also detrimental to our profession; hence we would also like to take this issue up. “
OTOAI was formed on December 28, 2011 and since then the association has set up regional offices both in Mumbai and Kolkata. Sahani informed that they are in the process of setting up its southern chapter as well. Apart from issues related to the government the association is also keen to take up issues that are a matter of concern within the travel and tourism trade. Speaking of the proposed work and agenda that the association intends to address, Sahani said that they will push for setting up of accreditation system for tour operators in India. The aim is to bring in quality players in the business with credible background and real-time knowledge of the business.
