Tourism sector for some tax benefits in next budget

Leaders of the tourism sector demanded that the National Board of Revenue (NBR) provide some tax and duty benefits in the next budget including duty-free import of tourist vehicles to help the sector flourish.
At a 'meet the press' held in the city Wednesday they said the sector was not getting enough facilities from the government despite having immense potential to grow and contribute to the national economy.
They sought various fiscal benefits such as easy-term bank loans, tax, import duty and value added tax (VAT) waiver saying that the government declared the sector as an industry but they were not getting any benefits.
President of Bangladesh International Hotel Association (BIHA) H M Hakim Ali said the tourism sector could be next to the RMG (readymade garment) sector with the prospect of massive growth if timely and proper budgetary allocation is given for infrastructure development to boost the tourism sector in the country for both local and foreign tourists.
He said Cox's Bazar and Kuakata sea beaches need to be upgraded on a priority basis to attract larger number of tourists both from home and abroad.
Vice President of BIHA A T M Sahidul Alam said companies operating in the tourism sector may be provided with soft loan which can be distributed through the banking channel arranged by the Bangladesh Bank.
He said in our country some 15 per cent VAT (value added tax) is charged on the hotel industry but in a neighbouring country it is only 5-7 per cent. This should be considered for the sake of rapid growth of the hospitality industry.