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Withdraw tax on mainland, Port Blair air tickets

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, May 29

THE national conclave on tourism development in the Andaman Islands has recommended withdrawal of tax on air tickets between mainland and Port Blair.

The travel trade pointed out that high transportation costs were acting as hindrance in increasing tourist movements into the Andaman Islands, although there were enthusiastic responses to offer tourism packages for Andamans. There is a 18 per cent tax o n air tickets between the mainland and the islands. Besides, the price for aviation turbine fuel (ATF) has also to bear tax incidence.

The conclave has been organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), along with the Andaman Chamber of Commerce here.

While speaking about the shortage of seats on the routes between the Port Blair, Calcutta and Chennai, the tourism industry assembled for the conclave also demanded increase in the number and frequency of flights.

Ms. Nutan Guha Biswas, Tourism Secretary of the Andaman Islands, invited the tourism industry representatives to actively participate in development of tourism. She asked the industry representatives to suggest what the local administration can do to enc ourage greater investments from the private sector.

The President of Andaman Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Mohammad Jadwed, emphasised that the administration should make land available for building hotels and recreational facilities. He also urged that Port Blair should be declared an international stop-over for flights between India and South-East Asian countries.