Highlighting the importance of tourism industry, leading incentives consultant CA Julfesh Shah urged the stakeholders to avail incentives offered by the state Government under the Maharashtra Tourism Policy. He said that the tourism sector has become one of the major sectors in international commerce and at the same time, one of the main income sources for many developing countries like India. CA Julfesh Shah further enlightened that to promote tourism in Maharashtra, Directorate of Tourism & Culture Development had brought Maharashtra Tourism Policy 2016 from April 1, 2016 for a period of 10.

 

The main objective of this policy is to accelerate projects through private sector investments / PPP mode, development of tourism infrastructure in the state, develop tourist destinations and avenues. CA Shah explained that the eligible units under the scheme are hotels, heritage hotels, resorts health farms, health and wellness spa and units registered under the bed and breakfast scheme of MTDC/DoT, motels and wayside amenities, apartment hotels / service apartments, water sports and amusement parks, arts and crafts villages, golf courses, camping, caravanning and tent facilities, arial ropeways, exhibition-cum-convention centers, etc. For Fiscal Incentives under the policy, there has been Area Classification as Zone A, Zone B and Zone C as per the condition.

 

CA Shah explained about the brief process for applying Incentives under the policy which are registration of entity, application for Stamp Duty exemption, initiate and complete initial effective steps, apply for provisional registration, initiate and complete final effective steps, apply for eligibility certificate. CA Julfesh Shah concluded that in times of Covid pandemic where tourism industry is badly hurt, such Government policies shall help the Tourism industry and other ancillary industries attached to revive from the loss and come back to competition with financial support thus shall help in the overall growth of the sector.