Dr K Chiranjeevi, Minister of State with Independent Charge for Tourism, Govrnment of India, yesterday announced the setting up of the Southern Zonal Tourism Council (SZTC) comprising Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry. The Minister in his interaction with the office bearers of World Travel & Tourism Council- India Initiative (WTTCII) welcomed the idea that emanated from the WTTCII Bekal Retreat held in September this year.
“The setting up of the Southern Zonal Tourism Council will help facilitate development of tourism and tourism products of Southern India in a holistic and comprehensive manner. Development of Integrated Tourism Circuits among the Southern states will be the way forward. The issues of competitive taxation of tourism products, inter-state taxation and seamless tourist movement by facilitating smooth facilitation at entry and exit points of the states will be addressed by the council.” Dr Chiranjeevi said.
The Ministry will be writing to the chief secretaries of the states, who would chair the SZTC by rotation. The tourism secretaries and finance secretaries of the respective states will be permanent invitees to the SZTC. The SZTC will also interact with stakeholders to understand the concerns and issues facing the tourism industry. The SZTC will have a mandate to look at the inter-state taxation on tourist vehicles, interstate permits, smooth facilitation at the entry and exit points of the states, and development of requisite infrastructure to and at destinations.
Welcoming the move, WTTCII said that this was an excellent step in the direction of a coordinated and planned approach to develop tourism in South India. This move will enhance the necessary infrastructure, policy and other interventions needed to take tourism to the next level in this region.