Lok Sabha Question No. 4738 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Negative Trend in Tourism Sector After Outspread of Coronavirus
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4738 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2020

## NEGATIVE TREND IN TOURISM SECTOR AFTER OUTSPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS

4738. SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the tourism sector in the country has been showing  a  very  negative  growth  after  the  spread  of  Coronavirus across the globe;
- (b) whether  it  is  also  true  that  the  arrivals  of  tourists  have  sharply declined and is nearly nil in tourists favoured spots like Kerala; and
- (c) if so, the steps taken by the Government to correct the situation in the coming months?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (c): Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has not conducted specific study on impact of spread of Coronavirus on tourism sector in the country. However, provisional data of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) in the country during January & February, 2020 and those of like period in previous year are given below:

|     | January 2019   | February 2019   | January 2020   | February 2020   |
|-----|----------------|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|
| FTA | 11,03,380      | 10,87,694       | 11,18,150      | 10,15,632       |

Data on tourist visits on various tourist spots are not maintained in Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of  India.  Details  of  steps  taken  by Ministry of Tourism, Government  of India to sensitize about the measures  required  to  be  taken  as  well  as  to  facilitate  tourists  in  the country is attached at Annexure.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a)  TO  (c)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4738 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2020 REGARDING NEGATIVE TREND IN TOURISM SECTOR AFTER OUTSPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS.

Ministry of Tourism has taken the following initiatives to generate awareness about the measures required to be taken as well as to facilitate tourists in the country:

## A: Dissemination of Information and GOI guidelines:

- (i) All Travel related advisories and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health & Welfare from time to time have been circulated  amongst  all  Travel  and  Hospitality  related Associations.
- (ii) The links to the guidelines have also been  made available  on  the  MOT  website  and  social  handles.  . Tweets of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare are being re-tweeted.
- (iii) All Associations and their members have been advised to be vigilant about possible suspect cases and bring cases of persons showing symptoms to the notice of the health authorities  on  the  Ministry  of  Health  Helpline  number 01123978046and Helpline e-mail ID: ncov2019@gmail.com.
- (iv) Travel Advisory along with Self Reporting Form  as received  from  the  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare have  been  circulated  to  the  Pr.  Secretary  /  Secretary (Tourism) of all States and UTs.
- (v) A  letter  was  issued  to  Chief  Secretaries  of  all  States  / UTs requesting that in case of tourists with no exposure to  the  virus,  necessary  instructions  may  be  issued  to district collectors / concerned local officials, not to stop their entry and to allow them to check in to hotels and if required medical testing of the tourists may be undertaken as per prescribed procedures.
- (vi) Specific  guidelines  issued  by  the  Ministry  of  Health  & Family Welfare on prevention of transmission and disinfection of hotels/ lodging facilities where
- suspect/confirmed  Coronavirus  (COVID-19)  cases  have been housed have been forwarded to Hotel Associations for circulation amongst their members.
- (vii) A  letter  has  been  issued  to  States  /  UTs  and  Travel Associations  advising  that  movement  of  tourist  groups within the country may be avoided so as to minimize the chances of spread of coronavirus.
- (viii) A  whatsapp  group  of  senior  Central  and  State  Govt. officials has been created by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare  for  regular  updating  on  the  subject  and  issues involved. Secretary (Tourism) and DG (Tourism) are part of this group.

## B: Providing Assistance

## Ministry of Tourism Helpline

- (ix) The Ministry of Tourism has in operation a 24x7 Info-Help Line on toll free number 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 in 12 Languages including 10 international languages (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian,  Chinese,  Japanese,  Korean,  Arabic),  Hindi  & English.

The  Helpline has  been  receiving queries related to Corona  virus.  A  large  number  of  queries  have  been regarding  advisories  issued,  if  any,  for  travel  to  other countries  such  as  Saudi  Arabia,  Kuwait,  Thailand,  etc. and travel within the country. These have been responded  to  on  the  basis  of  advisories  /  guidelines issued by Ministry of Health.

## The following actions have been taken:

-  A  team  in  the  Help  Centre  identified  and  designated specifically for dealing with Corono virus queries
- FAQs  have  been  prepared  for  responding  to  queries
-  received
-  In  case  of  queries  not  covered  under  the  FAQs,  the matter is being referred to a specific team identified in the  Ministry  of  Tourism,  who  would  address  the  matter with approval of the competent authority.
- (x) A WhatsApp group has been created amongst the senior officials  of  MOT  to  coordinate  amongst  themselves  and redress  issues  brought  to  notice  from  tour  operators, State governments and other tourism related stakeholders.
- (xi) A number of cases have been referred to the Ministry of Tourism  by  Tour  Operators,  relating  to  tourist  groups from countries including Italy, Germany, France, Netherlands who have arrived in India before the travel restrictions were imposed and have faced issues:
-  Hotels were not willing to allow foreign tourist groups to check  in,  even  though  they  had  no  symptoms,  and  in many  cases  they  were  insisting  on  medical  certificates before allowing the tourists to check in.
-  In  other  cases,  the  foreign  tourists  had  checked  into hotels  but  were  not  being  permitted  to  move  out  of  the hotel by the District authorities.
-  In some cases it was informed that District Administration is advising local tour operators to ensure that the foreign tourists leave the destination.

The Ministry of Tourism is in constant touch with the concerned authorities in the States to facilitate such tourists who have been facing issues. The Ministry has also advised the CMD  ITDC to accommodate tourists in the Samrat Hotel in Delhi and the same has been done as and when required.

A  letter  was  issued  to  all  Hotel  Associations  not  to  deny accommodation to foreign tourists and to follow required procedures prescribed by the Ministry of Health &  Family Welfare.

- (xii) Based on communication addressed to Secretary (Tourism) by Cabinet Secretary, a letter has been issued to the Pr. Secretary / Secretary (Tourism) of all States / UTs  requesting  them  to  identify  facilities  /  buildings,  if there are any that can be used as quarantine centers or can  be  converted  to  temporary  hospitals  with  isolation facilities.  States  /  UTs  have  also  been  requested  to
- facilitate  surveillance  activities  and  to  maintain  a  vigil particularly at major tourist spots and towns across the country.
- (xiii) The issue of waiving of cancellation charges on account of  cancellation of tour packages, hotel accommodation, and  air  and  rail  tickets  has  been  raised  by  the  Tour Operator Associations.
-  A letter in this regard has been addressed to the Hon'ble Minister  of  State  for  Civil  Aviation  (IC)  by  the  Hon'ble Minister of State for Tourism (IC) requesting that advisories may be issued to airline operators and other stakeholders  in  the aviation industry to resist  from charging any fee / levies towards cancellation/ rescheduling  of  air  tickets  till  such  time  the  situation normalizes.
-  Letters also sent to all Travel & Hospitality Associations, State  Governments  &  UT  Administrations,  Ministries  of Civil Aviation and Railways on the issue.
- (xiv) A meeting with stakeholders was chaired by the Hon'ble Minister  of  State  for  Tourism  (Independent  Charge)  on 13.3.2020, wherein the stakeholders made several suggestions on measures that could be taken to keep the confidence of the industry, consumers and stakeholders, which will be considered for taking up with the concerned Ministries/ authorities. It was also discussed that the travel industry should start formalizing plans for revival, once the situation stabilizes and is under control.
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