PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj said that tour operators and travel agencies should also open their offices in Uttarakhand for visitors coming to the State so that it can benefit from Goods and Service Tax (GST). He said this while addressing tour operators, tourism experts, entrepreneurs and representatives of organisations at the Utra convention organised jointly by the Uttarakhand Tourism Representatives Association and the State tourism department in Dehradun on Tuesday.
Maharaj said that most offices of tour operators and travel agencies are located in Delhi where they deduct GST, while the travel is to Uttarakhand. He said that if offices are set up in Uttarakhand, GST benefits will go to the State and the government will be able to address the issues of tour operators. He called tour operators brand ambassadors of Uttarakhand tourism and said they play an important role in presenting the real image of the State to visitors and connecting them to destinations. He added that Uttarakhand has scope not only in religious and cultural tourism but also in adventure, wellness, medical and rural tourism.
Maharaj said that the State government is working under the leadership of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote sustainable development and investment in tourism. He said that the department’s policies, packages and schemes are steps in this direction. He emphasised the need to ensure that tourism growth goes along with environmental protection and community participation. He said that such conferences will help in addressing challenges, opening new opportunities and giving Uttarakhand a stronger presence on the global tourism map.
