HRAAP Seeks GST Relief, Tourism Push For Vizag
HRAAP urged the AP government to seek GST input tax credit relief for hotels and launch a focused “Visit Vizag” campaign to boost tourism.
The Hotels and Restaurants Association of Andhra Pradesh (HRAAP) has urged the state government to take up with the Centre the issue of extending GST input tax credit to the hospitality sector and launch a focused tourism promotion campaign for Visakhapatnam.
In a representation to Special Chief Secretary Shamsher Singh Rawat, the association said hotels incur substantial GST on rentals, renovation, modernisation and equipment purchases but are unable to claim adequate input tax credit. This, it said, had increased operational costs and discouraged investment, particularly in mid-segment and budget hotels.
HRAAP sought state intervention with the GST Council for relief, saying the issue had earlier been discussed with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and visiting NITI Aayog officials.
In a separate memorandum, the association proposed a “Visit Vizag” campaign to promote Visakhapatnam as a tourism and business destination. It suggested targeting feeder markets in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal and promoting MICE tourism, destination weddings and temple and spiritual circuits.
The association also sought skill-development programmes to meet manpower requirements in the hospitality sector.
HRAAP president M.V. Pavan Kartheek said the association and its member hotels would support the government in destination branding, developing tourism circuits and manpower training. He stressed the need for coordination among AP Tourism, GVMC, VMRDA and industry stakeholders to increase tourist footfall and hotel occupancy.
