The move could add to a domestic tourism boom in the world's second most populous nation, where low inflation and rising incomes are changing lifestyles and consumption patterns of an estimated 250 million middle-class Indians. With scores of destinations introduced on airline routes last year, air travel is also surging.
India's tourism sector grew over 10 per cent in the six months ending September, compared to near 8 per cent in the year-ago period. According to an industry report, tourism employs 40 million people in India and could add 10 million jobs in a decade.
"We'll announce measures in the budget to promote investment in the tourism sector," a top finance ministry official told Reuters, adding that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley favours lowering a 28 per cent tax on hotel tariffs, and offering incentives to attract private investments.
If the moves come about, companies expected to benefit include airlines like IndiGo, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, and Jet Airways and hotel operators such as Indian Hotels, that owns the Taj Mahal chain and EIH Ltd that operates the Oberoi hotels in India.
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