Port Blair, May 11: Mr. M Vinod, State Vice President of Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman & Nicobar Islands has highlighted some of the burning issues being faced by the Tourism Industry of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of A & N Administration, Mr. M Vinod expressed his gratitude to A& N Administration for adopting pro-active measures in containing the menace of the corona virus. “It is admirable and gratifying for all islanders to see that the administration focuses on prioritizing the lives of islanders above all else,” he wrote.
Mr. Vinod pointed out that the second wave of corona virus has caused double the damage to an already crippled tourism industry of these Islands that had barely revived in the beginning of this year.
With bankruptcies, unemployment and closures of business around once again, the impact this time is so grave that without government intervention and urgent aid, the lone industry of these Islands shall founder.
Further in his letter on behalf of tourism industry he suggested some measures like : Term Loans, Over Drafts from government and private banks to tourism related firms and establishments may kindly have a moratorium granted for a period of 1 year from April 2021 to March 2022. All EMIs be deferred for a period of 1 year. After a period of 1 year, all such loans may have their interest rates slashed to half the levied rate at the time of sanction of such loans.
All travel and tourism related businesses be exempted from GST for a period of 3 years till March 2024.
All tourism establishments that have their government permits/license renewals from Directorate of Tourism, PMB, DSS, Forest, PBMC, ZSI etc. be automatically renewed till 31st March 2022 subject to an undertaking from the owner that all norms have been complied with. These renewals may kindly be put on fast track mode through single window system.
Any and all fees/charges/rents levied by the government bodies such as municipals, panchayats etc on tourism establishments be waived off for a period of 1 year starting from 1st April 2021 for existing as well as upcoming establishments. The same may be done for the previous financial year due to the closure of tourism last year.
Port charges be waived off for a period of 1 year starting from 1st April 2021 for all private boats operating in the islands under IV or MS Act. The same may be done for the previous financial year due to the closure of tourism last year.
The technical Human Resource that are engaged in IV vessels/adventure water sports activities owned by private firms/individuals that have their competency licences/certificates such as Power Boat Handling, Life Saving Techniques. First Aid, CPR, Parasailing master, SLST etc due for renewal in the next 1 year starting from 1st April 2021 may have their license renewal fees waived off.
Registration certificates/form 12/form 12A/form 8 of IV vessels be automatically renewed till 31st March 2022 subject to an undertaking from the owner that all norms have been complied with.
Tourist permit for cabs whose permissions be automatically renewed for a period of 1 year till 31st March 2022 subject to an undertaking from the owner than all norms have been complied with.
Registration of Shops and Establishments of tourism establishments be automatically renewed for a period of 01 year at no charge.
Electricity/water charges etc be waived off for a period of 1 year.
Applicants of capital investment subsidy scheme at Directorate of Industries be accorded the complete rightful subsidy on fast track mode.
The administration relaxes norms in all possible ways and allows the businesses to restructure and revive themselves through and post this disaster for a prosperous economy in the future.
Any other monetary/regulatory/statutory relief be granted to travel and tourism establishments to support and prevent them from shutting down entirely.
A temporary separate division with adequate manpower from each department be dedicated as a single window to fast track all the above necessities without delay.
With focus on saving lives, a parallel emphasis be given to saving livelihoods by constituting a tourism revival task force constituting representatives from line departments as well as stakeholders from every segment of the industry. This task force be assigned the onus to brainstorm and plan a roadmap for revival of the industry.
“The prevailing circumstances is beyond anyone’s control and has rendered the whole industry helpless. The trauma this wave of despair shall leave will be long lasting,” Mr. Vinod added.
