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Service Tax increase for Tour Operators from 4.5% to 9% is a anti-growth reform

 

 

Service Tax for tour operators was increased from 4.5% to 9% for invoices generated after January 22nd, 2017. Tourism is not at all promoted by these kind of decisions.

Tourism is one industry which perhaps contributes more towards a growth of a nation. Its not just a business. Yes, it does collect revenues, but if you study it in details, it does much beyond that and contributes much more towards the Nation Building. In times when we should decrease the taxes further, increasing it does not help, specifically in a developing nation like India. In a Nation which contains more than 70% of the Himalayas, we get very less International Trekkers and Mountaineers in our country compared to Nepal. Many factors like safety infrastructure, availability of knowledgeable resources, access to easy and hassle-free rescue services, use of advanced communication devices, lack of trekker's hut etc results in this less inflow of International trekkers and Mountaineers. Though we are steadily seeing a rise in it, our Government Policy should be more focused on developing infrastructure, increasing safety and better and easy access to rescue systems so that we can motivate and boost Adventure Travel in our Country. More flow of tourists, both Domestic and International, does not just result  in increased foreign exchange but also allows for valuable exchange of culture and knowledge share, which results in overall growth of the resources and the nation in overall.

In times, when we should decrease the cost of travel, while maintaining top-class service infrastructure, this policy by the Government demotivates not just the Domestic and International adventurers planning to visit the Indian Himalayas, but also all the Adventure Tour Operators whose packages now got costlier. 

The Adventure Tour Operators in our Country already faces great challenges in arranging and organising adventure tours, specifically Mountaineering and Trekking in the Himalayas. Managing quality trained resources, panning and providing safety backups, arranging camping with quality equipment etc incurs too much cost and hence increases the cost of their packages. On top of that additional service tax of 9% adds too much pressure on the wallets of their clients.

The Government should rather focus on building more eco-friendly trekker's hut which not just reduces the cost, but also adds variety to the trek routes and generate further jobs. They should focus more on regulating mass tourism in the remote Himalayan regions which are eco-sensitive zones and needs much care. May be once all the infrastructure setup has been done, and activities like Mountaineering and Trekking gets a steady flow of tourists in the Indian Himalayas, they can then increase the tax to earn revenue from it. Our policy should rather find means to promote the activities, reduce cost of travel and increase safety and reliability while venturing in our remote Himalayas. The action of the policy maker is more like wanting to eat the food without investing money to buy the raw materials and time to cook it.

The Indian Mountaineering Foundation has taken the right steps by slashing the peak climbing fees in the Indian Himalayas. That does help the crisis, whereas this decision of increasing service tax is just the opposite and goes against the vision of developing tourism in our Country.

Increasing tourist inflow by reducing cost and then regulating standard and controlled conduct of the treks to solve the mass tourism problem which is promoted by few profit-hungry and insensitive trek operators is rather the need of the hour.

We can just hope that the corcerned people understands this and rolls back the decision and works more towards a sustainable and tourist-friendly Indian Himalayas.

 

 
    Nandi Kund - Ghiya Vinayak Pass Trek
    Nandi Kund - Ghiya Vinayak Pass Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 10 Days, 9 Nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 5250m
    • 🛑 Grade: Strenuous ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: May End - June, Sep - Early October
    • 🚩 Starts From: Ransi
    • 🚩 Ends In: Urgum
    • 🌏 Region: India - Uttrakhand
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, Uttrakhand
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Rishikesh, Uttrakhand
    Treks On Offer
    Bhyundar Khal Trek
    Bhyundar Khal Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 11 Da
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 5100m
    • 🛑 Grade: Strenuous ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: May End - June, Sep - Early October
    • 🚩 Starts From: Joshimath
    • 🚩 Ends In: Joshimath
    • 🌏 Region: India - Uttrakhand
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehraoon, Uttrakhand
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Rishikesh, Uttrakhand
    Treks On Offer
    Mera Peak Trekking Expedition
    Mera Peak Trekking Expedition
    • 📅 Duration: 19 Da
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 6476m
    • 🛑 Grade: Challenging + ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Apr, May, Sep - Nov
    • 🚩 Starts From: Lukla
    • 🚩 Ends In: Lukla
    • 🌏 Region: Nepal - Everest
    • 🎌 Country: Nepal
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Tenzing–Hillary Airport, Lukla, Solukhumbhu
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Jayanagar or Gorakhpur, Bihar
    Treks On Offer
    Pin Parvati Pass Trek
    Pin Parvati Pass Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 10 days 10 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 5300m
    • 🛑 Grade: Strenuous ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: mid Jun, Sep
    • 🚩 Starts From: Manali
    • 🚩 Ends In: Manali
    • 🌏 Region: India - Himachal
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Bhuntar Airport (KUU), Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Chandigarh
    Treks On Offer
    Markha Valley Trek
    Markha Valley Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 9 days 8 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 5130m
    • 🛑 Grade: Moderate + ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
    • 🚩 Starts From: Leh
    • 🚩 Ends In: Leh
    • 🌏 Region: India - Ladakh
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Leh, Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport ( IXL)
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Katra, (KEA), Jammu Tawi ( JAT)
    Treks On Offer
    Kedarkantha Trek
    Kedarkantha Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 3 Days, 4 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 3800m
    • 🛑 Grade: Easy ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
    • 🚩 Starts From: Sankri
    • 🚩 Ends In: Sankri
    • 🌏 Region: India - Uttrakhand
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, Uttrakhand
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Dehradun, Uttrakhand
    Treks On Offer
    Gangotri Vasuki Tal Trek
    Gangotri Vasuki Tal Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 10 days 10 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 4810m
    • 🛑 Grade: Strenuous ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: May, Jun, Sep, Oct
    • 🚩 Starts From: Gangotri
    • 🚩 Ends In: Gangotri
    • 🌏 Region: India - Uttrakhand
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant, Dehradoon
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Rishikesh, Uttrakhand
    Treks On Offer
    Everest Three Passes Trek
    Everest Three Passes Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 18 days 18 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 5554m
    • 🛑 Grade: Challenging ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
    • 🚩 Starts From: Lukla
    • 🚩 Ends In: Lukla
    • 🌏 Region: Nepal - Everest
    • 🎌 Country: Nepal
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Tenzing–Hillary Airport, Lukla, Solukhumbhu
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Jayanagar or Gorakhpur, Bihar
    Treks On Offer
    Island Peak Climbing Expedition
    Island Peak Climbing Expedition
    • 📅 Duration: 18 days 18 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 6189m
    • 🛑 Grade: Challenging + ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
    • 🚩 Starts From: Lukla
    • 🚩 Ends In: Lukla
    • 🌏 Region: Nepal - Everest
    • 🎌 Country: Nepal
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Tenzing–Hillary Airport, Lukla, Solukhumbhu
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Jayanagar or Gorakhpur, Bihar
    Treks On Offer
    Bali Pass Trek
    Bali Pass Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 9 Days, 8 Nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 4850m
    • 🛑 Grade: Strenuous ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: May, Jun, Sep, Oct
    • 🚩 Starts From: Sankri
    • 🚩 Ends In: Hanuman Chatti
    • 🌏 Region: India - Uttrakhand
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, Uttrakhand
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Dehradun, Uttrakhand
    Treks On Offer
    Mayali Pass Trek
    Mayali Pass Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 9 days 8 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 5300m
    • 🛑 Grade: Strenuous ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: May, Jun, Sep, Oct
    • 🚩 Starts From: Ghuttu
    • 🚩 Ends In: Gaurikund
    • 🌏 Region: India - Uttrakhand
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehraoon, Uttrakhand
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Rishikesh, Uttrakhand
    Treks On Offer
    Bagini Glacier Trek
    Bagini Glacier Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 8 days 7 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 4600m
    • 🛑 Grade: Moderate ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Apr to June, Sep to Nov
    • 🚩 Starts From: Joshimath
    • 🚩 Ends In: Joshimath
    • 🌏 Region: India - Uttrakhand
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehraoon, Uttrakhand
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Rishikesh, Uttrakhand
    Treks On Offer
    EBC With Gokyo Lakes
    EBC With Gokyo Lakes
    • 📅 Duration: 18 days 18 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 5554m
    • 🛑 Grade: Strenuous ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
    • 🚩 Starts From: Lukla
    • 🚩 Ends In: Lukla
    • 🌏 Region: Nepal - Everest
    • 🎌 Country: Nepal
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Tenzing–Hillary Airport, Lukla, Solukhumbhu
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Jayanagar or Gorakhpur, Bihar
    Treks On Offer
    Everest Base Camp Trek
    Everest Base Camp Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 14 days 14 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 5554m
    • 🛑 Grade: Strenuous ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
    • 🚩 Starts From: Lukla
    • 🚩 Ends In: Lukla
    • 🌏 Region: Nepal - Everest
    • 🎌 Country: Nepal
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Tenzing–Hillary Airport, Lukla, Solukhumbhu
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Jayanagar or Gorakhpur, Bihar
    Treks On Offer
    Har Ki Dun Trek
    Har Ki Dun Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 7 Days, 6 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 3600m
    • 🛑 Grade: Moderate ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
    • 🚩 Starts From: Sankri
    • 🚩 Ends In: Sankri
    • 🌏 Region: India - Uttrakhand
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, Uttrakhand
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Dehradun, Uttrakhand
    Treks On Offer
    Kang Yatse 2 Trek
    Kang Yatse 2 Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 12 days 12 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 6223m
    • 🛑 Grade: Challenging ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
    • 🚩 Starts From: Leh
    • 🚩 Ends In: Leh
    • 🌏 Region: India - Ladakh
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Leh, Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport ( IXL)
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Katra, (KEA), Jammu Tawi ( JAT)
    Treks On Offer
    Sandakphu Trek
    Sandakphu Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 7 Days 6 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 3636m
    • 🛑 Grade: Easy ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Oct - May
    • 🚩 Starts From: Maneybhanjyang
    • 🚩 Ends In: Srikhola
    • 🌏 Region: India - Darjeeling Sikkim
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Bagdogra, West Bengal
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal
    Treks On Offer
    Goechala Trek
    Goechala Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 10 Days, 9 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 5000m
    • 🛑 Grade: Moderate + ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Mar - May, Sep - Dec
    • 🚩 Starts From: Yuksom
    • 🚩 Ends In: Yuksom
    • 🌏 Region: India - Darjeeling Sikkim
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Bagdogra, West Bengal
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal
    Treks On Offer
    Phoktey Dara Trek
    Phoktey Dara Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 8 days 7 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 3800m
    • 🛑 Grade: Easy ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Jan - May, Sep - Dec
    • 🚩 Starts From: Hilley
    • 🚩 Ends In: Bhareng
    • 🌏 Region: India - Darjeeling Sikkim
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Bagdogra, West Bengal
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal
    Treks On Offer
    Dzongri La Trek
    Dzongri La Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 8 Days, 7 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 4170m
    • 🛑 Grade: Moderate ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Jan - May, Sep - Dec
    • 🚩 Starts From: Yuksom
    • 🚩 Ends In: Yuksom
    • 🌏 Region: India - Darjeeling Sikkim
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Bagdogra, West Bengal
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal
    Treks On Offer
    Pangarchula Peak Trek
    Pangarchula Peak Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 7 days 6 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 4575m
    • 🛑 Grade: Moderate + ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: May June, Sep Oct Nov, Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr
    • 🚩 Starts From: Joshimath
    • 🚩 Ends In: Joshimath
    • 🌏 Region: India - Uttrakhand
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehraoon, Uttrakhand
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Rishikesh, Uttrakhand
    Treks On Offer
    Sandakphu 4 Day Trek
    Sandakphu 4 Day Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 4 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 3636m
    • 🛑 Grade: Easy ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Jan - May, Oct - Dec
    • 🚩 Starts From: Maneybhanjyang
    • 🚩 Ends In: Srikhola
    • 🌏 Region: India - Darjeeling Sikkim
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Bagdogra, West Bengal
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal
    Treks On Offer
    Mentok Kangri Climbing Expedition
    Mentok Kangri Climbing Expedition
    • 📅 Duration: 11 Days, 10 Nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 6230m
    • 🛑 Grade: Challenging + ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
    • 🚩 Starts From: Leh
    • 🚩 Ends In: Leh
    • 🌏 Region: India - Ladakh
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Leh, Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport ( IXL)
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Katra, (KEA), Jammu Tawi ( JAT)
    Treks On Offer
    Kang Yatse 1 and 2 Climbing Expedition
    Kang Yatse 1 and 2 Climbing Expedition
    • 📅 Duration: 16 Da
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 6401m
    • 🛑 Grade: Challenging + ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
    • 🚩 Starts From: Leh
    • 🚩 Ends In: Leh
    • 🌏 Region: India - Ladakh
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Leh, Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport ( IXL)
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Katra, (KEA), Jammu Tawi ( JAT)
    Treks On Offer
    Kedarkantha Short Hardcore Trek
    Kedarkantha Short Hardcore Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 3 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 3800m
    • 🛑 Grade: Moderate ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
    • 🚩 Starts From: Sankri
    • 🚩 Ends In: Sankri
    • 🌏 Region: India - Uttrakhand
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, Uttrakhand
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Dehradun, Uttrakhand
    Treks On Offer
    Sandakphu Phalut In Land Rover
    Sandakphu Phalut In Land Rover
    • 📅 Duration: 4 Days, 3 Nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 3636m
    • 🛑 Grade: Easy ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Jan - May, Sep - Dec
    • 🚩 Starts From: Maneybhanjyang
    • 🚩 Ends In: Maneybhanjyang
    • 🌏 Region: India - Darjeeling Sikkim
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Bagdogra, West Bengal
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal
    Treks On Offer
    Har Ki Dun Ruinsara Tal Trek
    Har Ki Dun Ruinsara Tal Trek
    • 📅 Duration: 9 Days, 8 nights
    • 🔼 Highest Altitude: 4200m
    • 🛑 Grade: Moderate ( know trek grades )
    • 👍 Best Time: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
    • 🚩 Starts From: Sankri
    • 🚩 Ends In: Sankri
    • 🌏 Region: India - Uttrakhand
    • 🎌 Country: India
    • 🛪  Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, Uttrakhand
    • 🚉 Nearest Rail Head: Dehradun, Uttrakhand
    Treks On Offer
View User Profile for Suman

Every day I keep learning new things, but as of now, I think I can describe myself as a Loyal Himalayan Lover, Avid Trekker, Student Of Mountaineering, Amateur Photographer and an Enthusiastic Anthropologist. I am a Computer Science Engineer by education and previously worked as a Software Developer for premium IT companies. However, I quit the luxury of a high-earning corporate job and left behind the herd to walk towards the spiritual path laid down by the Godly Himalayas. At the age of 27 with no savings at all and being the only son from a lower-middle-class family, it was too young to fight against the family who in turn had to fight against the rules laid down by society. However, with my determination and perseverance, everything became smooth by passing time.

It wasn't easy for me as I learnt the hard way from mistakes - my own and by observing others. I fought 2 major road accidents that broke my right tibia and femur. I underwent 7 surgeries that kept me away from the mountains, but I patiently fought them all to get back to trekking again in the Himalayas with rods and plates in my bones. Despite doctors saying I cannot walk properly ever again to getting back to trekking on the difficult routes again, Life made me understand very clearly what it wants out of me in this World. It wants me to serve the Himalayas and its community, live a peaceful, content and simple life. That's what I have dedicated my this life to. I am not religious, but spiritual. The Himalayas define my road.

The Himalayas today is spammed by mushrooming trek agencies and big companies who take pride in being India's Largest, biggest, oldest, etc. They are exploiting everything for the sake of profit. It is in dire need of regulation by credible Government authorities, Sustainable Tourism Practices needs to be forced upon every organisation, Small Group Sizes needs to be mandated, Fixed camping should be restricted in alpine zones and Negative Ecological Impact Trekking Protocols should be laid down immediately by governing bodies. With all these objectives, I founded Himalayan High in the year 2015. Learn more about Himalayan High on About Himalayan High

Posted by Suman Chowdhury Thursday, March 9, 2017 10:02:00 AM

 

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