Tourism stakeholders seek VAT cut on resorts, liquor

Dhaka : Tourism industry stakeholders on February 10 sought VAT cut on resorts, restaurants and liquors, both local and foreign, to help the sector revive from the pandemic-induced loss and grow further.
To further ease the movement of tourists coming from home and abroad, they also urged the revenue authority to allow hotel and resort owners to import different types of tourism-friendly vehicles, having specific colour and number plate.
The proposals were placed at a pre-budget meeting of different associations with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) at its conference room in the capital's Segunbagicha area.
Presided over by NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem, the programme was addressed by NBR members Md Masud Sadiq, Zakia Sultana and Md Shamsuddin Ahmed.
Leaders of different associations - representing shop and restaurant owners, tourism industry, and courier service, etc - placed their budget proposals for next fiscal year (FY), 2022-2023.
Speaking at the programme, Tourism Resort Industries Association of Bangladesh (TRIAB) President Khabir Uddin Ahmed, mentioning that the existing VAT and tax rates on hotel and resorts have become a burden for the industry, proposed to lower the current 15 per cent VAT on resorts to 7.5 per cent.