Rafeuzzaman, President of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), has called for the removal of the 15% VAT imposed on the tourism sector in the proposed budget.
He made this demand during a meeting with FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam following the budget announcement on 6 June.
Rafeuzzaman argued, "We do not have the opportunity to take VAT from any tourist that we operate. Because the hotels we stay in are subsidized by the government on food and accommodation. So if VAT is imposed separately on us, the tourism sector and the tour operator sector will suffer. That is why we strongly demand the government to withdraw the VAT in this sector."
He emphasised that the additional tax burden would negatively impact both the tourism and tour operator sectors.
TOAB is planning to undertake a more detailed program to advocate for the withdrawal of VAT, Rafeuzzaman added.
