सभी का स्वागत है। Are you thinking about working in the tourism industry in India?

If you want to open a tourism business in India, go further and read this article that will tell you  everything you need to know before investing in this wonderful country full of history and cultural diversity.

GLOBAL INFORMATION ABOUT INDIA

A bright Economic context:

By 2016, India was the fastest growing economy in the world. According to the IMF, it will remain one of the fastest growing countries for at least the next 5 years. In 2019, it is still considered to be one of the most likely economies to be the fastest growing.

In 2018, India became the 6th largest economny in the world. Indian GDP has doubled within the last 10 years and professionals believe that it will continue growing during the coming years. This view was confirmed in 2019 as it is predicted to overtake the UK and become the 5th largest economy in the world.

With the Indian Government’s “Make in India” initiative, the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has increased in the peninsular region, making it a bright opportunity if you are looking to open a company in India, as a growing number of population are increasing their purchasing power.

PROCESS TO OPEN A TOURISM BUSINESS IN INDIA

The first thing to study before opening your business in India is the business culture because it can be very different from what you are used to see say in Europe. Moreover, in such a big country, habits and trends are not the same from north to south, they vary from state to state. You will also have to identify the best tourist places in India and tourist attractions in India!

To be a part of the tourism industry in India, it is recommend that you work closely with a tax advisor or a business lawyer, they will be able to assist you efficiently during the whole process.

• Your company will need to have a legal structure that will bring credibility to the whole process. Here are a few points to consider while taking care of the legal formalities:
  • •  Register your DMC as per The Companies Act (2019 Ammendment).
      • • Get GST registration of your company.
        • Provide an application letter to the International Air Transport Association as well as the Government. The benefits will be:
          • A badge of credibility to your business.
          • More exposure to your business.

Moreover, you will be able to benefit from tax incentives. You will also benefit from tax exemption for the first five years of your activity because of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), after which you will be eligible for a 50% tax reduction for the years after.  

TOURISM IN INDIA

All the specialists agree that: travel industry in India is a very promising field. People from all around the world are more likely to go and visit India. You can find on the table below some numbers to highlight this trend. If your dream is to invest in tourism in India, then this might be your chance!

If you are looking for more information about the country itself, don’t hesitate to have a look at many other articles https://businessculture.org/indian-business-culture/

Prepared by the team – DIGITAL COMMANDO

Sources

Images free of rights:
Unsplash.com. (2019). Entering the Taj Mahal at the sunrise… | HD photo by Julian Yu (@littlej1428) on Unsplash. [online] Available at: https://unsplash.com/photos/_WuPjE-MPHo [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].

Baillard, D. (2018). Aujourd’hui l’économie – L’Inde est devenue la sixième puissance économique mondiale. [online] RFI. Available at: http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20180711-inde-est-devenu-sixieme-puissance-economique-mondiale [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].

Businessculture.org. (n.d.). Business etiquette – Business Culture. [online] Available at: https://businessculture.org/indian-business-culture/business-etiquette/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].

https://www.expat.com/. (2019). Creer une entreprise en Inde, Travailler en Inde. [online] Available at: https://www.expat.com/fr/guide/asie/inde/12667-creer-une-entreprise-en-inde.html [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].

India Tourism Statistics 2018. (2018). [ebook] Available at: http://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Other/India%20Tourism%20Statistics%202018.pdf [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].

Marion, J. (2017). J’ai créé mon entreprise en Inde il y a 10 ans, voici mon histoire. [online] BFM BUSINESS. Available at: https://bfmbusiness.bfmtv.com/monde/j-ai-cree-mon-entreprise-en-inde-il-y-a-10-ans-voici-mon-histoire-1108344.html [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].

Parsons, N. (2018). Opinion | Pourquoi l’Inde est-elle le nouvel impératif des investisseurs européens ?. [online] Les Echos. Available at: https://www.lesechos.fr/idees-debats/cercle/opinion-pourquoi-linde-est-elle-le-nouvel-imperatif-des-investisseurs-europeens-138668 [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].

Perrin, A. (2019). Inde, millenials et potentiel touristique | Etourisme.info. [online] Etourisme.info. Available at: http://www.etourisme.info/inde-millenials-et-potentiel-touristique/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].

Voyage in India. (n.d.). Le tourisme en Inde s’affiche une belle progression. [online] Available at: https://www.voyageinindia.fr/le-tourisme-en-inde-saffiche-une-belle-progression/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2019].

Netherlands is becoming increasingly active in the area of entrepreneurship. If you want to build your own business, be your own boss and start your own company, then it is certainly a good time to start your business in Netherlands! But why is that?

• It has one of the lowest tax rates in Europe (from 20%).
• There is no value added tax (VAT) for transactions between member states of the EU.
• Companies have an amazing and well-known reputation in global e-commerce.
• English is spoken by more than 90% of the people and often have another foreign language.
• Netherlands offer an incredibly business atmosphere.
• Netherlands is welcoming to foreign entrepreneurs and investors.

So, if you are interested, here are some of the administrative steps that have to be followed:

1. Do I need to obtain a VISA to live and start a business in Netherlands ? 

Any person from any country can start a business. Due to the EU (European Union) law, citizens from the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are allowed to work in the Netherlands without a special residency. 

However, the procedure change if you are a Non-EU citizen. In that case, and depending on your project, you can look for a start-up permit or a self-employed permit.

2. Which permit should I apply to?

To be able to apply for one of the permits, there are some criteria that you have to meet:

The start up Visa

It’s a visa that lasts one year and is reserved to international entrepreneurs who want to create their own business. You have to prove that you have enough financial resources to sustain yourself for that year and also that your business is innovative.

The self-employed residence permit

If you are thinking to move for an indefinite period of time, this is the Visa you have to apply for. However, you need to fulfill some requirements like a solid business plan, a certified financial information and good financial prospects from third parties. This application is a points-based system and you need a minimum of 90 points to accomplish it.

For more information, you can read the government’s informations about visas.

3. What kind of the Legal business forms do they have?

Here are the various types of legal business structures you need to know to start your business in Netherlands. There exist two types of business figures: the unincorporated structures and incorporated structures. But there is only one difference between them. The first one has to provide privately accountable for any debts created with the business, meanwhile the incorporated business provides it separately. That’s why the majority of entrepreneurs decide to choose a private limited company.

Unincorporated business structures:

• Sole trader (Individual Business Owner)
• Partnership
• Limited partnership
• General Partnership

Incorporated business structures:

• Private limited company
• Public limited company
• Cooperative
• Foundation
• Association

The choice of the legal forms depends on the type of business you choose. For example, freelancers and small business owners usually choose the Sole Proprietorship structure, while the most used form for big businesses is a Limited Liability Company.

4. Is there any registration do I need to fulfill to start a business in Netherlands ? – Yes, discover the KvK!

When you identified the kind of business you want to start, it’s needed to register it with the KvK (Kamer van Koophandel) or Dutch Chamber of Commerce to enter in the Dutch Trade Register. Also, your business should be registered with your local municipality. Remember to do it one week before you start your business and if you choose to close it, it should be within one week after. 

First of all, make sure you already define the name of your business and make up good description about what you are going to run. You can find a clue of some names on the Kvk search page.

How does the registration work ? 

1. Register on KVK web page. Complete all the legal information in English and Dutch. Be sure to share some information about your business and activities. 
2. Then you should arrange an appointment to visit your local KvK on the “appointment page”
3. For you appointment make sure you bring:

• Complete form 
• Payment (approx 50€)
• ID (passport, residency or Dutch driving licence)
• Contact details (include address, rental contract of the business)

After this process, you will receive a business number, known as the KvK number, to use it in your invoices and all the legal documents for your business. 

You are now ready to start your business in Netherlands ! And don’t forget to learn about business culture in Netherlands… 🙂

Whether it’s due to the country’s promising career opportunities, or down to its generous approach to paid parental leave, it’s easy to see why Sweden is known for offering a great work/life balance and a high quality of life. This is further reflected in HSBC’s most recent Expat Explorer Survey which ranks Sweden first place for work/life balance.

To help expats discover how living and working in Sweden can improve their work/life balance, this article takes a deep dive into what the country has to offer in terms of career opportunities, lifestyle and more.

Career opportunities

Home to a diverse range of industries, from telecommunications and automotive to agriculture and pharmaceuticals, Sweden has a lot to offer expats in terms of career opportunities.

To help expats find a job more easily, the Swedish Migration Agency and the Public Employment Agency regularly put together a list of occupations that are in high demand. Known as the labour shortage list, expats are able to sift through the list to see if there are any jobs available which require a particular set of skills. One thing to note though is that this list is only available in Swedish. If you’re already fluent in Swedish then great, if not, you may have to use some translation tools to decode it.

If you do happen to be skilled in any of the areas listed, you’ll have a better chance of being accepted for the job role. Plus, if you are offered a job that is in high demand, you can apply for a work permit from Sweden instead of having to return to your home country to apply.

English is the language of business and commerce in Sweden and even though many companies use English as their corporate language, it is ideal to learn Swedish too. Being able to speak conversational Swedish will help you better communicate with the local population and may even help you to secure a job, even if the job role requires you to be fluent in English.

With an abundance of career paths for expats to pursue and a clear way of finding out which jobs are in high demand, finding work as an expat is made simple.

Paid parental leave

If you’re relocating to Sweden with your family, then you’re in luck. As a very family-oriented country, parents living in Sweden are entitled to a generous 480 days of paid parental leave once a child is born or adopted. Of this, parents should expect to receive around 80% of their salary for 390 days, and a standard rate of SEK 180 per day for the remaining 90 days.

Bear in mind that parents are only eligible for this if they have been working legally in Sweden for at least 240 days and have contributed to the country’s tax system. Adding to this, employees in Sweden have the right to take at least 25 days of paid holiday each year.

With an emphasis on family time and free time, finding a good work/life balance is not just important in Sweden, but actively promoted through benefits such as these.

Employee health benefits

Workers rights are one of the cornerstones of the Swedish labour market, and as such, an environment where the health and safety of employees come first is essential. In addition to support from Labour unions, the Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket) – a government agency, ensures employees’ wellbeing at work.

The Arbetsmiljöverket also emphasise that employees’ mental health is just as important as their physical health, which is why strong measures are put in place to ensure healthy working environments. This is another example of how Sweden support its people, and encourages a good work/life balance.

As well as ensuring employees are well looked after when it comes to their physical and mental health, the wider Swedish healthcare system is generally considered to be of a very high-quality too. Patients reflect on the high standard of care received, with 90% of people using primary care saying they were treated with respect and consideration by staff.

Even though the Swedish healthcare system is universal, there are some costs patients will incur, which is why expats working here sometimes opt for a private health insurance plan to ensure they don’t have to pay any out of pocket fees. Having the peace of mind that you would be covered if anything were to happen to you health-wise can make all the difference.

Space to breathe

Having space to breathe is an important part of finding a good balance between your work life and your everyday life. Thankfully, Sweden is known for its luscious green spaces and for promoting an outdoor lifestyle.

For example, Stockholm, Sweden’s blossoming capital, is packed with parks, forests, small islands and coastal walks, all minutes from the city centre. Surrounded by water and greenery, Stockholm offers expats a unique opportunity to live and work amid a mix of natural and urban landscapes.

Even though Sweden experiences long and dark winters, this doesn’t stop people from engaging in exciting outdoor activities – whether it’s skating, sledding or skiing. People in Sweden know how to work hard, but they also know how to enjoy their natural surroundings.

With an array of green spaces, plentiful career opportunities, and an emphasis on good health and wellbeing in the workplace, Sweden offers expats many ways to achieve a healthier balance between their work life and free time.