Two days after chief minister Prithviraj Chavan promised to revive the city's nightlife by allowing pubs and restaurants to stay open till late in the night, the government announced fresh sops on Saturday.
Maharashtra tourism minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Saturday said fewer licences will now be required to open restaurants, the licence renovation period will be extended from the existing one to five years and luxury taxes will be slashed.
Addressing the IATO Convention in the city, the minister said the government was considering a one-window clearance system for restaurants, a 50% rebate on registration fee for tourism buses and stamp duty on tourism projects and levying industrial rates for use of water in tourism projects.
Speaking at the convention, senior ministers of the Union government urged Maharashtra to do more to realize the state's full potential in the tourism sector, including reduction of state taxes and building greater infrastructure.
The two ministers—Union aviation minister Ajit Singh and Union tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahai—referred to steps Maharashtra has failed to take thus far. Singh highlighted the "high" rate of tax imposed by Maharashtra on air turbine fuel (ATF).
"Maharashtra adds 25% tax to the original value of the fuel, which is at least 5% higher than that in Delhi. If taxes are not reduced, other airports will march ahead of Mumbai," Singh said while pointing at the city's high airport charges as well.
» Read Complete News.....(You need to login first to read complete news). New User? Register for FREE!
» Back to Travel News