The West Bengal Incentive Scheme: Additional Incentive for Adventure Tour Operators
The West Bengal Incentive Scheme: Additional Benefits for Adventure Tour Operators
The “Additional Incentive for Adventure Tour Operators” initiative, part of the “West Bengal Incentive Scheme” (WBIS), is designed by the Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal. This scheme offers financial reimbursements on SGST payments for the procurement of essential equipment such as tents, dinghies, and adventure sports gear, empowering entrepreneurs in the tourism sector.
About the Scheme
Launched on February 22, 2021, the “Additional Incentive for Adventure Tour Operators” serves as a sub-scheme under the broader “West Bengal Incentive Scheme 2021.” The scheme is set to remain operational until December 31, 2025, focusing on bolstering the adventure tourism industry in West Bengal.
Objectives
The overarching aim of the “West Bengal Incentive Scheme” is to provide financial support to aspiring entrepreneurs, enabling them to establish and grow their own businesses, thereby fostering self-employment and generating job opportunities.
In particular, the “Additional Incentive for Adventure Tour Operators” seeks to reward eligible companies that attract over 50 international tourists or 100 domestic tourists within a financial year. This is contingent upon the payment of SGST, qualifying them for additional financial assistance for acquiring necessary adventure-related equipment.
Benefits
The incentive structure is tiered based on the classification of the area:
- Group A: 60% reimbursement
- Group B: 70% reimbursement
- Group C: 80% reimbursement
- Group D: 90% reimbursement
- Special Areas: 100% reimbursement
Eligibility Criteria
The scheme is applicable to:
- All tourism projects or units initiated on or after February 22, 2021.
- Hotel units that commenced operations between January 7, 2015, and December 31, 2020, but did not apply under the previous scheme due to the absence of a bar.
- Entities in private, cooperative, or joint sectors, including state government-managed companies.
- Projects with an approved feasibility report from a recognized financial institution.
- Projects sanctioned by a Central Financial Institution, commercial banks, or state financial institutions.
- Units that possess a Registration Certificate, Date of Commencement Certificate, and Eligibility Certificate from the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited.
Exclusions
The following are excluded from the scheme:
- Tourism units that have already been sanctioned incentives under any previous scheme.
- Units that submitted registration applications under the WBIS 2015 before this scheme’s commencement and whose applications were not resolved prior to this date.
Application Process
To apply for the incentives, follow these steps:
Registration Process
- Visit the official Shilpasathi portal and select ‘Apply online’.
- A sign-up window will appear; click on ‘Create New’ for new users.
- Select the relevant category (Industry/Business/Commercial/Charitable Society/Government entity) and input the registration number.
- Complete the ‘User Registration’ form accurately then click ‘Register’. If you already have an account, click ‘Sign In’ and enter your User ID, password, and Captcha code.
Application Steps
- Log into the Shilpasathi portal using your credentials.
- Access your user dashboard and click on ‘ALL SERVICES’ to find the desired service.
- Select the checkbox next to ‘Tourism Incentive’.
- Click on ‘Create CAF’ to generate your CAF ID. Proceed by clicking ‘Apply Online’.
- Fill out the common application form with the necessary details.
- Attach all required documents and click ‘Save & Continue’.
- Confirm successful document upload through the notification message.
- Review your application and check the Declaration box before hitting ‘Submit’.
- Receive notifications via SMS and email about your application’s progress.
- Check the status of your application on the dedicated page.
- Upon approval, download your Registration Certificate from the system.
Important Note
To receive the incentives, applicants must first obtain a Registration Certificate, a Date of Commencement Certificate, and an Eligibility Certificate before the incentives can be granted. After securing both the Registration and Date of Commercial Operation Certificate, applicants should submit their request to the Managing Director of the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation for the Eligibility Certificate.
Eligibility Criteria
The Scheme shall be generally applicable to all eligible tourism projects/units/expansion projects of existing units set up on or after the effective date (i.e. 22nd February, 2021) of this incentive scheme.
Or,
Eligible Hotel Units who started their commercial operation on or after 7th January, 2015 to 31st December, 2020 but could not apply under previous scheme 2015 due to absence of a Bar in the Hotel.
The units may be in the private sector, co-operative sector, joint sector as also companies/undertakings owned or managed by the State Government.
The project should be covered by a detailed feasibility report/project prepared for the purpose.
The project should have been approved and sanctioned by a Central Financial Institution or Commercial Banks or State Financial Institutions.
The unit should hold an Registration Certificate, Date of Commencement Certificate and Eligibility Certificate issued by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited on satisfaction of arrangement.
Benefits
Group A: 60%
Group B: 70%
Group C: 80%
Group D: 90%
Special Areas: 100%
Application Process
Apply OnlineRegistration Process:
Step 01: Visit the official Shilpasathi portal
and click on ‘Apply online’.
Step 02: A sign up window will appear. Click on ‘Create New’ for new user.
Step 03: Select the Industry /Business /Commercial /Charitable Society/ Govt. entity and enter the concerned Registration number.
Step 04: Then the ‘User Registration’ window will appear with the relevant fields that the applicant needs to fill accurately and click on ‘Register’. In case the applicant already has an account, click on the ‘Sign In’ button and login using valid User ID, password and Captcha code.
Application Process:
Step 01: Visit the official Shilpasathi portal
and click on ‘Apply online’.
Step 02: Enter your user name, password and captcha code then click on “Log In”. Or sign in with the registered mobile number and OTP.
Step 03: Applicants will be directed to the user dashboard. Click on ‘ALL SERVICES’ to get the desired service.
Step 04: A list of services will appear. Applicants need to click on the check box adjacent to the service named ‘Tourism Incentive’.
Step 05: Once done, click on ‘Create CAF’. Applicant’s CAF ID will be created. Click on ‘Apply Online’ to proceed with the application.
Step 06: Applicant will be redirected to the common application form where he has to fill in the necessary details mentioned for proceeding further with the application.
Step 07: Once done, the applicant needs to attach the relevant documents required for the issuance of the certificate and click on ‘Save & Continue’.
Step 08: Once uploaded, a ‘Document successfully uploaded’ header message will appear for confirmation. Applicants will be shown the filled application with details provided for final review.
Step 09: Once reviewed, the applicant needs to click on the Declaration checkbox on the bottom left of the application page before proceeding to the ‘Submit’ button.
Step 10: The applicant will receive notifications through SMS and email at critical stages of application processing–application submission, application approval or rejection at various stages.
Step 11: Once done, the applicant will be auto redirected to the ‘Check status’ page to view the current status of the application.
Step 12: Once all the steps are successfully completed , after Approval by the authority the applicant will receive in the online system the Registration certificate approved by the Department by clicking on the ‘Download Certificate’ button.
Note:
The steps for getting the incentives are Issue of Registration Certificate, Issue of Date of Commencement Certificate and issue of Eligibility Certificate before granting incentives in each case.
After getting both the Registration and Date of Commercial Operation Certificate, the Tourism unit applies to the Managing Director, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation for Eligibility Certificate.
After getting all the above mentioned three certificates the eligible units apply to The Managing Director, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation for Different types of incentives (see sl. 1) through different online forms.
Helpdesk:
Protiti, 23, Abanindranath Tagore Sarani (Camac Street), Kolkata - 700017, West Bengal, India.
Phone: +91 33 2255 3700
Fax: +91 33 2255 3737
Email: [email protected]
For any technical query or any critical issues faced while submitting application please mail to our Quick Response Team at: [email protected]
Silpa Sathi Single Window Cell-Helpline Number (Toll free): 1800-345-5562
References & Official Links
Scheme Details
| Full Name | The West Bengal Incentive Scheme: Additional Incentive for Adventure Tour Operators |
| Short Title | WBISAITO |
| Level | State |
| Scheme For | Infra |
| Categories | Business & Entrepreneurship |
| States | West Bengal |
| Gender | All |
| Age Range | Any — 31 years |
| Area | Urban |
| Source | www.myscheme.gov.in ↗ |