Open land for accomodation, uniform tax structure for tourists: IATO

New Delhi, Sept 2 (UNI) To attract more tourist inflow into the country, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has urged the government to bring uniformity in tax structure for the tourists and provide land to set up hotels.

IATO, the national apex body of the tourism industry, stressed that the government should stop auctioning of land to private players and instead promote public private partnership (PPP) to come up with budget hotels in the national capital.

Though the open sky policy has resulted in the boom of tourism industry but now there is a need to open the land too, said IATO President Subhash Goyal.

''We have requested the government to increase the Floors-to-Area Ratio (FAR), so that more rooms can be added by building more floors,'' he said.

The spur in the real estate prices has kept the industry away for building more hotels but ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2010, more budget hotels will be required and for that government should join hands with the private players.

Mr Goyal further said the implicated tax structure should be resolved for the tourists and the tariffs levied should be brought under one single umbrella.

IATO claimed that roads and airports should be upgraded and the historical monuments should be preserved for the smooth functioning of the tourists.

The tourist inflow is expected to touch five million by March 2008, from 4.24 million in March 2006, while a 14 per cent increase was reported in March 2007, according to IATO.

The revenue from the tourism sector was five billion dollars in December 2006, witnessing a 20 per cent hike.

IATO, established in 1982, has over 4,000 members covering all segments of tourism industry.

UNI