MUMBAI: In a bid to help hotels reduce their tax burden and thereby attract more tourists at competitive rates in the post-cocid scenario, the Tourism Authority (DoT), Maharashtra Tourism, Govt. of Maharashtra finally launches inspection of hotels to give them industry status. The Pune Tourism Authority will be the first to start the inspection from August 3, 2022. A total number of 181 unclassified hotels have registered and applied since June 2021 in the Pune area that the inspection committee and designated agency will visit.
Dhananjay Sawalkar, Co-Director of the Department of Tourism (DoT) said, “So far, 446 applications from all over Maharashtra have been received by the DoT. After inspection, if these hotels meet all the set criteria, they will be eligible to receive industrial status. This will make electricity charges, water bill, property tax, and non-agricultural tax available to registered hotels at industry rates.
The Maharashtra government had granted industry status to the hospitality sector in April 1999, but this remained only on paper and was not implemented. In 2020, there was an evolution in the decision when the state government released the GR, announcing the criteria for levying taxes and charges at the industry rate for unlisted hotels. Since then, unranked hotels have been invited to register and apply for the benefits. And now, as the regional offices have received a huge number of registrations, the inspection committee will begin its on-site visits, a statement from the tourism department said.
The committee will be chaired by the deputy directors of the respective regions, a representative from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) department, a regional representative from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), a local representative from the Hotel and Restaurant Association (HRA ) and a representative of Tour Operators Association (TOA). The Qualstar agency has prepared a roadmap for the inspection of the sites which will be followed by the committee.
Hotels can continue to register with the Maharashtra Department of Tourism and enjoy industry status benefits.
Supriya Karmarkar, Deputy Director of Pune Region, called on hoteliers to apply for industrial status by visiting the official website of ‘Maharashtra Tourism’ https://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in and submitting the application form by online with all required documents. .
Industrial concessions will be applicable from the date of the registration certificate of the requesting hotel. Interested hoteliers should check the criteria on the official government website https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/1145/Government-Resolutions
Dhananjay Sawalkar, Co-Director of the Department of Tourism (DoT) said, “So far, 446 applications from all over Maharashtra have been received by the DoT. After inspection, if these hotels meet all the set criteria, they will be eligible to receive industrial status. This will make electricity charges, water bill, property tax, and non-agricultural tax available to registered hotels at industry rates.
The Maharashtra government had granted industry status to the hospitality sector in April 1999, but this remained only on paper and was not implemented. In 2020, there was an evolution in the decision when the state government released the GR, announcing the criteria for levying taxes and charges at the industry rate for unlisted hotels. Since then, unranked hotels have been invited to register and apply for the benefits. And now, as the regional offices have received a huge number of registrations, the inspection committee will begin its on-site visits, a statement from the tourism department said.
The committee will be chaired by the deputy directors of the respective regions, a representative from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) department, a regional representative from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), a local representative from the Hotel and Restaurant Association (HRA ) and a representative of Tour Operators Association (TOA). The Qualstar agency has prepared a roadmap for the inspection of the sites which will be followed by the committee.
Hotels can continue to register with the Maharashtra Department of Tourism and enjoy industry status benefits.
Supriya Karmarkar, Deputy Director of Pune Region, called on hoteliers to apply for industrial status by visiting the official website of ‘Maharashtra Tourism’ https://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in and submitting the application form by online with all required documents. .
Industrial concessions will be applicable from the date of the registration certificate of the requesting hotel. Interested hoteliers should check the criteria on the official government website https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/1145/Government-Resolutions
