Hyderabad, Jun 7 (FN Agency) The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) on Monday urged Government of Telangana a revival package to bail out the industry. Nagesh Pampati Chairman – Telangana and AP states of TAAI along with his colleagues in the industry, Mr Ranga Reddy, Chairman of IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators) Telangana and AP Chapter, Mr Siraj Ansari, President of TOAT (Tour Operators Association of Telangana) met Tourism Minister V Srinivas Goud recently and submitted a representation towards this effect, a release here said on Monday.
“While all sectors across the globe are talking about ‘revival’, Travel and Tourism industry is talking about ‘survival’ , Mr Nagesh said. The delegation urged the Telangana Government and sought its support to advise the Banks to offer Tours and Travel Industry an interest-free loans upto Rs 25 Lakhs to be repaid back in the next 3 financial years. If an amount of above Rs 25 Lakhs is sought, Banks can charge a nominal interest rate, they said. They also requested the Minister to consider Waiver of Property Taxes for 2021-2022 for the offices they currently occupy. We have paid taxes for 2020-2021 and the current taxes is a huge burden on us, the delegation told the Minister.
The delegation also sought the Minister’s intervention in vaccinating the entire Tourism and Travel industry on priority basis and allotted us a few Urban Primary Health Centers with slots dedicated for them. The industry wants support for their employees by paying Rs 5000 a month till March 2022. Though the industry witnessed huge losses, it has not retrenched staff because of the appeal made by the Chief Minister K Chandra Shekhar Rao last year not to sack or remove employees. Further they want Aarogya Shree to be extended to Tourism employees as they are true ambassadors, promote tourism and earn revenue for the state. They appealed to the government to facilitate a soft loan to the staff to the extent of Rs two lakhs from the banks per person, in order to fulfill their urgent needs. They have also sought fee waivers in schools and colleges for the staff working in the Tours and Travel Industry as they are unable to pay fees for their children.