No tax on foreign travel, PM Modi says report is ‘totally false’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 15 firmly rejected reports claiming the government was considering a tax on foreign travel, calling the claim “totally false” and saying there was “not an iota of truth” in it.

Responding to the report on X, Modi said there was “no question” of imposing any such restriction on overseas travel, directly dismissing speculation that had triggered concern among travelers and businesses.

He also reiterated the government’s commitment to improving “Ease of Doing Business” and “Ease of Living” for Indian citizens.

Soon after the Prime Minister’s clarification, the media organization that published the report issued an apology and withdrew the story.

The clarification comes days after Modi, during a rally in Hyderabad on May 10, urged citizens to voluntarily cut non-essential foreign travel, reduce fuel consumption and avoid buying gold for a year, as India navigates global economic disruptions linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict.

The Prime Minister had appealed for collective public participation to ease pressure on India’s external sector, which has seen foreign exchange reserves decline by $38 billion in just two months.

As part of that appeal, Modi urged citizens to use public transport more frequently, increase adoption of electric vehicles, revive Covid-era practices such as work-from-home and virtual meetings, prioritize locally made goods, and avoid discretionary spending on foreign travel and gold.