HOTEL INDUSTRY TO GET PARTIAL RELIEF IN GST

Hotel Industry To Get Partial Relief In GST

HRAWI Welcomes The Revision, But Maintains That The Structure Continues To Be Un-Competitive Vis-à-vis Neighboring Countries

Mumbai: The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has welcomed the revised GST slab on hotel room tariffs that effectively widens the tax slab of 18 per cent to tariffs ranging between Rs.2500 and Rs.7500 instead of the previous upper limit of Rs.5000. With the revision, the highest tax rate of 28 per cent is assigned to tariffs of Rs.7500 and above. Although the hotel industry was hoping for a more competitive and simpler GST, it has welcomed the partial relief. Along with the revision in the slabs for room tariffs, the tax rate for air-conditioned restaurants including restaurants in 5 star hotels will have GST at 18 per cent, effective July 1, 2017.

“This is unarguably a welcome revision. But, if India has to remain competitive as a tourist destination, this may just not cut the ice. While neighboring countries pay 5 to 12% GST or equivalent tax, hotels in India would be levying 18 and 28% GST. This may not augur well with foreign inbound tourists who are lured with significant deals and sops by our neighbors. We should remember that we are living in a very competitive world, and tourists today have a lot of choices,” says Mr Dilip Datwani, President, HRAWI.

It has been HRAWI’s contention that tourism is the one industry that has unlimited potential for job creation and forex earnings. With a more pragmatic taxation policy, the exchequer could stand to earn three times current earnings by increasing the base.

“So while the revision will provide hotels and restaurants some relief, we believe that the GST continues to be nonviable even now. India needs to be not just promoted as a tourism destination but also needs to offer value for money to tourists. With countries around us levying taxes that are effectively half of our GST rates, in the long term the tourist inflow is bound to suffer. We are still hopeful that the Government reconsiders the GST for hospitality after they asses the results on the sector, post the roll out,” he concludes.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 67 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include smaller Hotels up to 5-Star Deluxe categories. The bulk of its members like any growth economy are made up of budget hotels. With membership base spread across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu & Silvassa, and is considered to be the voice of the Hotel Industry. The association is part of the national body of Federation of the Hotels & Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950 by the late Mr J.R.D. Tata.

HRAWI LAUNCHES PROJECT PICKLE TO BRING DALIT WOMEN ENTERPRISE INTO SOCIAL MAINSTREAM

Hoteliers Supported By Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment To Put Spotlight on Dalit Women Enterprise

HRAWI Launches Project Pickle To Bring Dalit Women Enterprise Into Social Mainstream

Launch of HRAWI's Project Pickle  (L-R Shri Ramdasji Athawale, Mr. Bharat Malkani & self-help Dalit women groups)

Mumbai: The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has collaborated with the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to provide support for Dalit women to start and sustain their own enterprises. And the medium chosen for the one of its kind social initiative is the ubiquitous everyday food item, the pickle. The hotel body will conduct an advocacy programme with both its member and non-member hotels and restaurants to purchase pickles from self-help Dalit women groups.

“With more than ten thousand hotels and restaurants operating in Mumbai, at least statistically, ‘Project Pickle’ could provide employment to 6.5 lakh weaker section women. It is estimated that domestic hotel industry buys close to Rs.240 crore worth of pickles, of which Maharashtra hotels’ share of purchase stands estimated at Rs.65-70 crore. One month’s supply of pickles in three to five hotels can provide employment to at least ten Women’s Self Help Group (WSHG) community ladies,” said Mr. Bharat Malkani, former President, HRAWI.

The project was announced at the conference and panel discussion, ‘Women Empowerment & Social transformation - Justice for Weaker Sections’ held today by Indo American Chamber of Commerce with the support of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India. It highlighted issues and challenges faced by Dalit women and discussed innovative strategies which could both empower women and galvanize economic growth at the grassroots level. Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the Conference was participated by Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Ramdasji Athawale, Mr. Bharat Malkani, former President, HRAWI, and Dr. Geeta Ibrahim Principal College of Home Science, Nirmala Niketan, among others.

“I thank HRAWI for taking initiative and coming forward with this innovative idea. This will go a long way in bringing about the much needed social equity and the principle of One Man – One Value that Dr. Ambedkar eloquently spoke about. Such linkages will help realize Babasaheb's vision of fostering equality in social and economic life and strive to bring about economic democracy," said Shri. Athawale. He also thanked the organizers of the conference, Indo American Chamber of Commerce and media partner - Free Press Group of Newspapers.

“Even if we begin with a pilot project in Maharashtra, this could become a case study for not only hotel industries across the nation, but for associations across all sectors. The hospitality sector is one of the biggest employment generators in the nation as well as one of the biggest contributors to the GDP. We will do our best to make a success of this project,” concluded Mr. Dilip Datwani, President, HRAWI.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 67 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include smaller Hotels up to 5-Star Deluxe categories. The bulk of its members like any growth economy are made up of budget hotels. With membership base spread across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and the Union Territories of Daman, Diu & Silvassa, and is considered to be the voice of the Hotel Industry. The association is part of the national body of Federation of the Hotels & Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950 by the late Mr. J.R.D. Tata.