Issues on service tax need clarifications, says Kuoni India's chief Rajeev Wagle

The Modi government has been seeking to develop the tourism sector and according to Rajeev Wagle, Managing Director of Kuoni India, expectations are high from Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. “A few issues on service tax need clarifications. We hope that this year’s budget will do the same. Importance must be given by the government to GST. We want to look at the operational details of full GST. The government has done a lot on the inbound front like the e-visas and visa on arrival,” he said. [caption id=“attachment_2116521” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Reuters image[/caption] Wagle said his key pre-budget recommendations are prioritisation of key issues such as safety and infrastructure, infrastructure enhancement and rationalisation of taxes. “The Government’s manifesto has identified tourism as one of the five T’s (Tradition, Talent, Tourism, Trade and Technology) for revival of ‘Brand India’. It recognises the role of tourism and hospitality as a key foreign exchange earner as well as a driver of socio-economic progress through creation of jobs, enterprise, infrastructure development and foreign exchange earnings,” Wagle said. “The Union Budget’s recognition and commitment to tourism as an important revenue earner for the government will give the needed boost to the tourism industry in general,” he said.