Impact of GST on the hospitality industry is showing positive signs since this sector would lure a multitude of tourists and customers due to decrease in end-user costs. Reports suggest that the Indian hotel industry would cross the value of INR 1200 Billion before the year 2023 will come to an end. Hotel Market is spearheading the hospitality industry in India.
Most of the foreign corporate travelers and international sightseers are visiting India for business opportunities and exploring the sacredness and unfathomable beauty of tourist places in India. Thus, they are driving force behind the flourishing hotel industry in India.
Experts have put their point that Goods and services tax implementation will boost the sector by pulling down the business transaction costs, reducing customer costs, and simplifying taxation process. However, there are some hurdles on the path as well.
Hospitality Industry Tax prior to Implementation of GST
Under the previous VAT regime, the hospitality sector was paying multiple taxes like service tax, luxury tax, and VAT. A room hotel with a tariff more than Rs 1000 used to come under service tax of 15%. On the tariff value, 40% abatement was allowed pulling down the service tax rate to 9%. The applicability of luxury tax and VAT (12-14.5%) would be on the head. In the same way, service tax for restaurants after abatement was 6%, including VAT.
Impact of GST on Hospitality Services
Under the reasonable GST regime for the hospitality industry, this sector is witnessing more demand as well as traction. As the final cost to the customer is declining, more international tourists are on the card for the hospitality industry. Eventually, it would perk up government revenue. The hospitality sector will be making the most out of standardized rates of tax. Furthermore, it would adequately utilize the ITC. This tax regime[1] ensures the unparalleled growth of the hospitality sector in the future course of time. There was a time when complementary foods were taxed distinctly under the value-added tax, but now it would get taxed under GST as a clustered service.
Applicability of GST rates for Room Tariff Based Hotels
- If the one-night tariff of a hotel is less than Rs 1000, No GST rate will be applicable.
- If the one-night tariff of a hotel is somewhere between Rs 1001 and Rs 7500, the GST rate applicable will be 12%.
- If the one-night tariff of a hotel is Rs 7501 or exceed Rs 7501, the GST rate applicable will be 18%.
Read our article:GST: Penalty, Offences and Appeals Under GST Act 2017
Merits of GST on the Hospitality Industry
- Complication-Free for Customers
Customers were unable to understand the right tax order in the previous regime. Furthermore, ordinary people were finding difficulties in differentiating between VAT and an entertainment tax. With GST as a unified tax system, customers would get a clear view of the tax structure and the tax that they are paying. They won’t get confused with the multiple charges on the bill, and all they would see is a single bill.
- Upgrade in Service standards
Have you ever faced the problem of waiting at the reception point of the hotel or roaming here and there due to the delay in the process of billing? Yes, you might have faced this problem, but after GST came into existence, it has simplified the things as there is only one tax to commute, and thereby, it has made the checking-out process easy. It’s another benefit that falls into the kitty of the hospitality industry. Removal of multiple taxes for a single bill and cascading effect of VAT would make the taxation process easy-breezy.
- Streamlined Process
Due to the abolishment of various other taxes, there will be a reduction in processes followed, and thus, the process of taxation would get streamlined.
- Avail the Benefits of Input Tax Credit
Claiming as well as availing input tax credit would be a matter of grace for the hospitality sector. At the time of paying the output, hotels will be able to take advantage by reducing the tax paid on input. Before the emergence of GST, tax paid on cleaning supplies along with tax paid on raw edibles couldn’t get adjusted in a complication-less manner against the outputs. However, the new GST regime will be free from all kinds of complications that existed in the previous taxation method.
Demerits of GST
- Lack of Parity with Global Players
Despite being getting registered its name in the records of the global hospitality industry, India needs to uplift its quality of services to match pace with the neighbouring counterparts. Neighbouring countries like Singapore and Japan are the tourist’s first choice due to their low tax rates. When it comes to the field of travel and hospitality, India is a big gun. However, due to its high tax rates, it is losing a good number of tourists.
- Increase in Technological Burden
GST has clarified under its guidelines the way through which every industry should fike their returns on time and maintains their accounts. However, businesses should try to become proficient on technological grounds.
Few Notable Facts
- India’s Tourism and hospitality sector would reach Rs 35 trillion at the end of the year 2029.
- By 2028, International tourist arrivals will be able to reach 30.5 million.
- As per Union Budget 2019-20, the Indian government would make strategies in order to turn 17 iconic tourist sites in India into world-class destinations.
Summing Up
The growth of the hospitality industry in India has drawn the attention of people all across the globe. However, still, there is a lot of scope for this sector to flourish at a national and international level. The hotel market is leading the hospitality industry from the front. The Indian government is improvising the things from scratch level so that positive outcomes would come for the hospitality sector and also keeping in mind that every business person associated with this industry must familiarize themselves thoroughly with GST new regimes and follow the same for the proper execution of government plans.
Read our article:How To Obtain GST Registration in India?
