New Delhi, Mar 29: Emphasising the importance of private participation in the development of tourism in the state, Chattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi today said his government would create a conducive environment to attract investors. "I believe the government has no business to run hotels, resorts and other similar business activities. I believe in promoting the private sector and entreprenuership at every level including tourism," Jogi said at a seminar on Chattisgarh tourism at PHDCCI here.
"Our job is to provide good governance, create conducive conditions for investment and develop infrastructure. We will not get into those areas where private sector can perform better," he said. The government had already spent more than Rs 1500 crore for development of roads in the state in the last two years and has earmarked another Rs 1000 crore for easy access to tourist destinations, he said adding, "We will continue to improve infrastructure to help private investors in the state."
About the initiatives taken to promote Chattisgarh as a tourist destination, he said budgetary allocation for the sector has been increased ten-fold to Rs 10.50 crore for 2003-04 from Rs 1.7 crore this financial year. Government has also announced a tax holiday of 10 years for all tourism-related projects entailing an investment of Rs 50 lakh and above.
He said government was considering rationalising motor vehicle tax on tourism-related activities and sales tax on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to four per cent from 20 per cent. Bureau Report