Lok Sabha Question No. 1251 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Stamp Duty Exemption for MICE
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Sunil Dattatray Tatkare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1251 ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## STAMP DUTY EXEMPTION FOR MICE

## 1251. SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- whether  the  Government  is  considered  to  extend  the  loan moratorium  for  at  least  another  six  months  on  all  working capital, principal, interest payments, loans and overdrafts and of  all  statutory  dues  which  is  urgently  required  w.r.t.  license fees,  property  tax  and  excise  fees  as  suggested  by  Industry associations  FICCI  and  the  Federation  of  Associations  in
- (a) Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH);
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  extend  stamp  duty exemption  for  integrated  Meetings,  Incentives,  Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE); and
- (c) the  manner  in  which  the  Government  envisages  boosting domestic tourism covering weekend, rural and heritage tourism?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a): RBI  has  given  3  months  moratorium  on  both  principal  and interest payments of term loans till 31st May 2020 and extended it till 31st August 2020. Extension of moratorium beyond August 2020 is one of the requests of the prominent stakeholders and Ministry of Tourism has taken up the same with the concerned Ministries/Departments  at  the  highest  level.   The  Ministry  is  also pursuing  issues  like relief  from  regulatory  compliances,  penal provisions  for  delays  in  dues,  excise  fees,  electricity  duty  and property tax with State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.

(b): Stamp duty is a State subject. The imposition/exemption of it is  decided  by  the  State/UT  Government  as  per  the  priorities  of  an industry/sector in its economy. However,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  recognizes  the  need  to develop  the  capacity  of  India's  MICE  industry  to  meet  its  future infrastructure  needs.  To  enable  India  to  pitch  for  larger  MICE events, the Ministry has extended benefits like financial assistance under Market Development Assistance (MDA) to the industry stakeholders, establishment of India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB), introduction of E-Conference visa for foreign visitors, regular promotional  media  campaign  in  Domestic  as  well  as  international markets, financial assistance under Market Development Assistance to the active members of India Conventions Promotion Bureau (ICPB) in bidding the international conferences etc. (c): Reviving domestic tourism is the topmost priority of the Ministry  of  Tourism. Dekho  Apna  Desh  Campaign  is  undertaken through  Webinars,  social  media  and  other  digital  platforms.  The main  focus  is  to  rebuild  the  trust  of  the  domestic  &  international travellers  in  terms  of  India  being  the  safe  destination  to  travel  in post-Covid scenario. The  Ministry  in  consultation  with  State  governments  and Stakeholders is working on creating content of destinations, including weekend, rural and heritage tourism destinations, as short inter-state  and  intra-state  itineraries  to  be  promoted  through  the Incredible India website and other Social Media platforms to create demand for domestic tourism.

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