Travel agents unhappy with budget

Rajji Rai, president, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) said on Tuesday that budget 2009 is a major disappointment for the whole of travel industry as the industry has been ignored.

“Budget 2009 is a major disappointment for the whole of travel industry. Despite repeated requests from various sections of the industry made to the Finance Minister, the industry has been ignored blatantly. No area of industry – travel, tourism (inbound & outbound), hospitality has been given any exemptions or allocations in the Budget,” Rai said.

“We hope that our recommendation for regularisation of State Luxury Tax, abolition of Service Tax, revival of 80HHD of Income Tax Act, reduction of taxes on ATF (which directly impacts airfares), etc will be reviewed once more and appropriate mechanisms will be put in place to implement the same,” Rai added.

Travel and tourism industry has been contributing major pie to the GDP of India and certain assertive measures are needed for the growth in this industry which is currently reeling under global recession, the members of association opined.