The finance minister was categorical in his budget speech that five year tax holiday for two, three and four star hotels would be allowed for the hotels to be built at Unesco declared world heritage sites.
Ashvini Kakkar, vice-chairman Mercury Travels and formerly head of Thomas Cook said there are about 25 world heritage sites in the country where the new hotels will get tax holiday.
The Unesco website informs there are 851 heritage sites in the world out of which 27 are in India. However, there are some cities like Agra and Aurangabad where there are more
than one heritage sites located. Like Ajanta and Ellora are located near Aurangabad or Taj Mahal and Agra Fort are in Agra. Even Fatepur Sikri is located near Agra.
Peter Kerkar, Director, Cox and Kings India, a major travel operator said it is a welcome move. "India goes beyond the Taj Mahal and Unesco declared sites such as Ajanta\Ellora, Sanchi Buddhist temples, Hampi temples in Karnataka and Elephanta caves in Maharashtra have a crying need for quality accommodation," he said.
Kerkar said tourists are interested in travelling to these places but there is lack of quality accommodation. The tax holiday will boost supply of hotel rooms and encourage tour operators to promote these destinations," he said.