Modi dismisses reports of tax or cess on foreign travel, calls claims false

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly denied media reports suggesting that the government is considering imposing a tax, cess, or surcharge on foreign travel. | Photo Credit: via PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dismissed reports that the government is considering levying a tax or a cess or a surcharge on foreign travel as "totally false".

The prime minister said this in response to a new report suggesting that the government is considering levying a tax or a cess or a surcharge on foreign travel but no final decision has been taken yet.

"This is totally false. Not an iota of truth in this. There is no question of putting such restrictions on foreign travel. We remain committed to improving 'Ease of Doing Business' and 'Ease of Living' for our people," Modi said in a post on X.

It is rare that the prime minister himself has denied a media report.

The report, quoting sources, claimed that the proposal to levy a cess or a tax or a surcharge on foreign travel is being discussed at the highest levels.

Published on May 15, 2026