Rohit Kumar
Port Blair, 10 May 2021
M. Vinod, State Vice President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has written a letter to the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration seeking relief for Tourism Industry Stakeholders of the Islands.
M. Vinod in his letter has stated that the second wave of COVID-19 which has wrecked havoc in the country has caused double damaged to the already crippled tourism industry of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
He has requested the Chief Secretary for implementation of certain measures to give relief to the Tourism Industry stakeholders of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Some of the measures suggested by the BJP Leader include (1) Granting of moratorium period of one year for Term Loans, Over Drafts from Govt. and Private Banks for tourism related firms and establishments. (2) Exemption from GST for all travel and tourism related businesses for a period of three years. (3) Automatic renewal of Govt. Permits/license renewals from various Govt. Departments till 31st March 2022 with undertaking from owner that all norms have been complied with. (4) All fees/charges/rent levied by government bodies such as municipal, panchayats etc. on tourism establishments be waived off for a period of 1 year. (5) Waiving off of Port Charges for a year starting 1st April 2021 for all private boats operating in the Islands under IV or MS Act. The same has also been demanded for previous financial year. (6) Waiving off of license renewal fees for technical Human Resource engaged in IV vessels/adventure water sports activities owned by private firms/individuals for a period of one year starting from April 2021. (7) Auto Renewal of registration certificates/ form 12/form 12A/form 8 of IV Vessels till 31st March 2022. (8) Auto Renewal for tourist permit for cabs for a period of 1 year till 31st March 2022. (9) Auto Renewal of Shops and Establishment Registration for Tourism Establishments for a period of 1 year at no charge. (10) Waiving off of electricity, water charges for tourism establishments for a period of 1 year. (11) Applicants of Capital Investment subsidy scheme at Directorate of Industries be accorded complete rightful subsidy on fast track mode. (12) Relaxation of norms by the Administration in all possible ways for the revival of tourism industry. (13) Providing other monetary/regulatory/statutory relief for tourism establishments to support and prevent them from shutting down entirely. (14) A single window to fast track all relief for tourism industry. (15) Constituting Tourism Revival Task Force to develop roadmap for revival of the tourism industry.
He concluded the letter by requesting the Chief Secretary to save the Tourism Industry.