Lok Sabha Question No. 1158 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Relief to Hotel Industry and Tourism Sector
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Achyutananda Samanta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1158 ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## RELIEF TO HOTEL INDUSTRY AND TOURISM SECTOR

## 1158. SHRI ACHYUTANANDA SAMANTA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  steps  to  revive  the hotel  and  restaurant  industry  which  have  been  one  of  the worst  hit  because  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic  and  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to formulate any scheme or provide  relief  for  the  hotel,  restaurants  and  tourism  based sectors due to COVID-19 pandemic; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  will  be  considering  provision  of subsidies in the form of bearing a percentage of diner bills, an example of which can be obtained from the United Kingdom's recent  decision  to  bear  50  per  cent  of  diner  bills  so  as  to encourage people to eat out, and if not whether the government has any similar progressive steps to help the F&B industry and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. The Ministry of Tourism has taken the following steps to revive the tourism industry hit by the COVID-19 pandemic:

- i. The  Ministry has formulated  and issued operational recommendations for hotels, restaurants, B&Bs/Homestays  and  farm  stays  and  other  Tourism Service  providers    to  facilitate  smooth  resumption  of business.
- ii. An  initiative  called  SAATHI  (System  for  Assessment, Awareness & Training for Hospitality Industry) has been developed, for effective implementation of Guidelines/SOPs issued with reference to COVID-19 and beyond for safe operations of Hotels, restaurants, B&Bs and other units.
- iii. The Ministry has been in regular touch with the industry stakeholders through several rounds of discussions and brainstorming  sessions  and  examined  their  suggestions carefully. All such proposals have been taken up with the concerned Ministries and Departments of Government of India. Similarly, the issues pertaining to the relief measures  expected  from  the States/UTs have  been pursued with them at the highest level.
- iv. The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  constituted  a  Task  Force under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister for  Tourism to meet the challenge posed by the outbreak of COVID-19 and make appropriate recommendations for the revival of the  tourism  sector  in  the  country.   The  Task  Force includes  State  Tourism  Ministers,  Joint  Secretary  level officers of the concerned Central Ministries and representatives from associations like FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM,  WTCII  as  well  as  heads  of  tourism  and hospitality associations.

(C): No, Sir. The Ministry has not considered subsidies in the form of bearing a percentage of diner bills. It has focused on measures to rebuild the trust of the domestic & international travellers in terms of  India  being  the  safe  destination  through  safety  measures  and protocols.

- *******