The benefit towards electricity, water, property, development, and non-agriculture taxes at industrial rates will provide respite to the hoteliers and travellers alike.

The Maharashtra government recently offered electricity duty and non-agriculture (NA) tax to the state-registered hotels at an industrial rate. 

Commenting on the move, Madan Prasad Bezbaruah, Secretary-General, Hotel Association of India said, "We welcome the move by Maharashtra Government for providing a series of ‘Industry Benefits’ to hotels in the state. Not only classified but non-classified hotels have also been included to avail these benefits which will help the industry at large to sail through the massive impact caused by the second wave. The benefit towards electricity, water, property, development, and non-agriculture taxes at industrial rates will provide a major relief to the hotels, help promote tourism in the state, pass on the benefits to travellers, and boost national economic recovery efforts."

"We have been urging other state governments to pass on these industry benefits to hotels in the state and save the sector from further bleeding," he added.

The decision has reduced the overall electricity charges as electricity duty for the industrial sector is charged at 9 per cent, contrary to 21 per cent for commercial sector. Besides, the NA tax for the commercial sector is twice, whereas it is one-and-half times for the industrial sector.