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Jagmohan for cut in air travel tax
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 4
Concerned over the fall in international tourist inflow into the country after the September 11 attack on the USA, Union Tourism and Culture Minister Jagmohan has urged the Finance Ministry to reduce air travel tax and duties in aviation turbine fuel to make the aviation sector more competitive to attract more tourists.

In a letter to Finance Minister recently, Mr Jagmohan demanded among other things listing of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) under the “open goods category”, 15 per cent reduction in air travel tax, besides an appropriate cut on duties levied on ATF.

Backing his demands with statistics on the fall of international tourist arrivals since September 11 last year, the Tourism Minister pointed out that due to high duty regime, the domestic airlines had become costlier and this had resulted in an increase in the outflow of Indian tourists abroad.