Hotels, motels, resorts, and guesthouses are an integral part of tourism but the owners have to pay huge tariffs on the equipment and products they import to ensure modern facilities for foreign tourists.
They also have to pay VAT for the service and in addition, income must be taxed at a rate of 37%, and this huge tax burden hampers the further growth of this sector, read a press release.
The members of the FBCCI's Standing Committee on Hotel, Motel, Resorts, and Guest House Development made this complaint at the first meeting of the committee held at its office on Tuesday afternoon.
They say the Coronavirus epidemic has almost destroyed the business of hotels, resorts, and guesthouses.
They demanded exemption from duties and taxes to compensate for the loss.
The businessmen claimed lower tax and VAT would help provide better services, including rent at a cheaper rate.
To attract foreign tourists, the members of the committee demanded the relaxation of the obligation to test the corona within 48 hours of the flight and the visa process.
The committee members blamed inadequate branding for the development of tourism in Bangladesh.
The speakers urged branding Bangladesh in the tourism sector through the Tourism Board.
Hence, they call for the necessary allocation in the budget.
Besides, recommendations for formulating a guest house development policy came up in the meeting.
FBCCI Senior Vice President Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu also joined the meeting virtually as the chief guest.
He said: “Hotels, motels, and guesthouses were among the sectors most affected by the coronavirus epidemic. The sector has also been playing an important role in earning foreign exchange.”
Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu urged the standing committee to find out the possibilities, problems, and possible solutions in this sector and submit them to the FBCCI in the form of a proposal.
He said: “The matter would be discussed in the policy-making body of the government considering the proposal.”
Khabir Uddin Ahmed, chairman of the committee, said: “At least three of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals announced by the United Nations are directly involved with tourism. Other goals are also indirectly dependent on the development of tourism. Therefore, to achieve the SDG by 2030, the country's tourism industry must be developed.”
FBCCI Director Syed Moazzem Hossain called for ensuring quality services to tourists at reasonable prices at hotels and resorts.
At the same time, he called for apprentice programs to create skilled manpower.
FBCCI Secretary-General Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque said: “The FBCCI has been attaching due importance to the development of tourism. It included the tourism sector in the agenda of the Canada-Bangladesh Joint Working Group.”
Also present at the meeting was the Co-Chairman of the Committee Khandaker Ruhul Amin, Taofiq Uddin Ahmed, Mohiuddin Helal, AHM Aminul Islam Bhuiyan, Md Mahbub Alam, Mohammad Jahangir Alam, Mehdi Amin Chowdhury, and other members.
