Vehicle tax to hit tourism

Bangalore: Tourist business operators in the state foresee a harrowing time ahead, with the increase in entry tax for tourist vehicles from other states coming into Karnataka. Operators from nearby states have threatened to have their own state governments impose a fee on tourist vehicles from Karnataka crossing their boundaries.

This comes in the wake of the State Regional Transport Office’s decision making it compulsory for vehicles with All India Tourist permits to pay an entry fee annually instead of each week, effective Dec 1, 2013.

However, state transport authorities maintained their stand as the revision rule was mandated by the court order. "There are nearly 14 checkposts through which tourist vehicles enter Karnataka.

For every 250 tourist vehicles that enter the state, we have at least 500 vehicles going out to Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Goa. If neighbouring states implement the same rule, it will badly affect our business," says Radhakrishna Holla, General Secretary, Bangalore Tourist and Taxi Owners Associ­ation.

According to the Tourist and Taxi Owners Association, more than 500 tourist spots in Karnataka are frequented by tourists from other states. They also say that this initiative could be a welcome move for increasing the revenue of the state road transport department. This is a definite setback for the state’s tourism department, as touring in Karnataka will be expensive for those entering the state in a tourist vehicle.

"There are several instances where tourist vehicles turn back after they are demanded an annual entry fee, at check posts like Tala­pady, Mananthavady, Sultan Bathery, and Gundlupet. The drivers abuse these RTO officials and drive back,” says BG Shivanna, President Bangalore Tourist and Taxi Owners Association.

"We all have to resort to our own tactics. For now, we are helping our counterparts in other states by deploying our tourist vehicles to pick up tourists from check posts and bring them intothe state. Some others might start using white board private cars for tourist purpose as well. The government should think about this. We are in the process of approaching the Trans­port Ministry and the Tourism Ministry to sort it out." added Shivanna.