Lok Sabha Question No. 1669 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-02
Subject: Impact of Corona Virus on Tourism Sector
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Anto  Antony, T. R. Paarivendhar, Pritam Gopinath Munde, Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1669 ANSWERED ON 02.03.2020

## IMPACT OF CORONA VIRUS ON TOURISM SECTOR

1669. SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

DR. T.R. PAARIVENDHAR:

DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU:

PROF. SAUGATA RAY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Indian Tourism Industry has been hit hard after the spread of Wuhan Corona Virus and if so, the details of losses suffered so far;
- (b) whether China is the third country behind the United Kingdom and United States in availing e-tourist visas to visit India and if so, the number of Chinese tourists visited India during the last one year;
- (c) whether the Government has suspended the e-visa facility for Chinese  travelers  and  foreigners  residing  in  China  and  if  so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  there  is  also  a  shortfall  of  foreign  tourists  from European countries after the outbreak of Corona Virus in India and other parts of Asia and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has issued any travel notification to our  citizens  due  to  Corona  Virus  threat  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has not undertaken study  on  effect  of  spread  of  Corona  Virus  on  Indian  Tourism Industry.

(b): Yes, Sir. As per the provisional data available on E-tourist Visa for  the  year  2019,  China  stands  third  after  United  Kingdom  and United  States  in  availing  e-tourist  Visa  facility  to  India.  228945 (provisional) Chinese nationals availed E-tourist visa facility during 2019 to travel to India.

(c): Yes, sir. Details regarding visa restriction to Chinese passport holders and foreigners in China are given in Annexure-I.

(d): Details  of  Foreign  Tourist  Arrivals  (FTAs)  in  India  during January, 2020 and January, 2019 from European countries and other Asian Countries are given below:

| FTAs in January   |   2020 (Provisional) |   2019 (Provisional) |
|-------------------|----------------------|----------------------|
| Asia              |               492798 |               481355 |
| Europe            |               303065 |               313492 |

(e): Yes, Sir. Details of some of the advisories issued for travellers to and from India and China, are annexed at Annexure-II, AnnexureIII and Annexure-IV.

********

## ANNEXURE-I

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1669 ANSWERED ON 02.03.2020 REGARDING IMPACT OF CORONA VIRUS ON TOURISM SECTOR.

Coronavirus related Visa Restriction published on website of Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home affairs, Government of India

Coronavirus  related  visa  restrictions  and  conditions  for  entry  into India

- I. All  Visas  issued  to  Chinese  passport  holders  from  mainland China (except for those from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) including Regular (sticker) as well as e-Visa issued prior to Feb 05,  2020,  coming  from  anywhere  in  the  world,  have  been suspended and are not valid for travel to India presently.
- II. No  Chinese  national  as  well  as  other  foreigner  presently  in China  are  allowed  to  travel  to  India  on  existing  Regular (sticker) visa or e-Visa, which was issued on or before Feb 05, 2020.   In  case  of  compelling  reasons  to  travel  to  India,  such persons may get in touch with Embassy in Beijing or Consulates  in  Shanghai  and  Guangzhou  for  new  Visa.  Thus, visas issued to Chinese nationals on or after February 06, shall be valid for travel to India.
- III. Arrival of any passenger (except Indian nationals) from China into  India  is  presently  suspended  unless  such  foreigner  has acquired a fresh Visa from Indian Mission/ Consulate in China on  or  after Feb  06,  2020.  Such  Chinese  or  other  foreign national need to contact Embassy in Beijing or Consulates in Shanghai  and  Guangzhou  or  the  concerned  Indian  Mission where  they presently reside for new  Visa if they have compelling reasons to travel to India.
- IV. Foreigners who have been to China on or after Jan 15, 2020, are presently not allowed to enter India from any Air, Land or seaport  including  Indo-Nepal,  Indo-Bhutan,  Indo-Bangladesh, Indo-Myanmar and Indo-Pak land borders.
- V. These visa restrictions will not apply to Aircrew who may be Chinese  nationals  or  other  foreign  nationals  coming  from China.
- VI. The  restriction  on  travel  is  not  applicable  to  the  Chinese passport holders of HongKong, Macau and Taiwan.

In exception to the categories of travellers mentioned above; the below mentioned categories of Chinese Nationals are allowed to enter India:-

- I. Chinese Nationals holding Diplomatic, Service Passport.
- II. Chinese Nationals working in United Nations (UN) bodies and other international bodies.
- III. Chinese Nationals who are OCI card holders.
- IV. These  restrictions  do  not  apply  to  Transit  passengers  from other countries who only transit through Airports in China.

· The above mentioned exempted categories of Chinese nationals will not need to apply for Fresh Visa. Their existing visas would  remain  valid.  However,  all  such  Chinese  nationals  will  be subjected to medical screening and may have to undergo quarantine on arrival in India, if they display any symptoms of Coronavirus.

*****

ANNEXURE-II

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PART (e) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1669 ANSWERED ON 02.03.2020 REGARDING IMPACT OF CORONA VIRUS ON TOURISM SECTOR

Advisory  issued  by  EMBASSY  OF  INDIA,  BEIJING  on  23 rd   January 2020  titled  'Novel  coronavirus  outbreak  in  China:  Advisory  to travellers from China visiting India'

An infection with a novel coronavirus has been reported from China.  As  on  22  January,  2020,  571  confirmed  cases  have  been reported in China so far, of which 17 have died. Only travel related cases  have  been  reported  in  the  US,  Thailand,  South  Korea  and Japan. The clinical signs and symptoms are mainly fever with a few patients having difficulty in breathing.

The mode of transmission is unclear as of now.

Although as per World Health Organization's risk assessment the  risk  for  global  spread  has  been  stated  as  low,  as  a  matter  of abundant  precaution,  the  travelers  from  China  are  advised  the following:

-  Travelers from China should follow simple public health measures at all times as under:
- o
- Observe good personal hygiene
- o Practice frequent hand washing with soap
- o      Follow  respiratory  etiquettes  -  cover  your  mouth  when coughing or sneezing
- o Avoid close contact with people who  are  unwell  or showing symptoms of illness, such as cough, runny nose etc.
- o Avoid contact with live  animals  and  consumption  of raw/undercooked meats
- o Avoid  travel  to  farms,  live  animal  markets  or  where animals are slaughtered
- o Wear  a  mask  if  you  have  respiratory  symptoms  such  as cough or runny nose
-  All travelers from China (in particular Wuhan city) to monitor their health closely.
-  If you feel sick and have fever and cough:
- o   Cover your mouth while coughing or sneezing
- o   Don't plan travels if sick
- o   Seek medical attention promptly
-  If you feel sick on flight, while traveling from China to India:
- o   Inform the airlines crew about illness
- o   Seek mask from the airlines crew
- o   Avoid close contact with family members or fellow traveller so Follow the directions of airline crew while disembarking
-  If you feel sick on flight or at the time of disembarkation:
- o   Report to airport health authorities/immigration
- o   Follow the direction of the airport health officer
-  If  you  feel  sick  within  a  span  of  one  month  after  last  being  in China:
- o Report the illness to the nearest health facility and also inform the treating doctor regarding your travel history.

********

## ANNEXURE-III

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PART (e) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1669 ANSWERED ON 02.03.2020 REGARDING IMPACT OF CORONA VIRUS ON TOURISM SECTOR

Press release of Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  dated 5th  Feb 2020.

Cabinet Secretary holds high level meeting to review actions and preparedness on Novel Coronavirus.

New Visa advisory for travellers from China issued.

Cabinet  Secretary  held  a  high  level  meeting  to  review  the and preparedness of States for the same with Secretaries of Health and Family  Welfare,  External  Affairs, Civil  Aviation,  Pharma,  Dept  of Health  Research,  Member  Secretary  (NDMA),  and  other  officials actions taken for management of Novel Coronavirus from Home Ministry, Commerce, Army and Defence, here today.

In  view  of  the  evolving  scenario  related  with  2019-  nCOV,  the following revised Travel Advisory is issued:

1. Existing visas (including eVisa already issued) are no longer valid for any foreign national travelling from China.
2. People have already been advised to refrain from travel to China through an earlier advisory. People traveling to China henceforth will be quarantined on return.
3. Intending visitors may contact Embassy in Beijing (visa.beijing@mea.gov.in)  or  the  Consulates  in  Shanghai (Ccons.shanghai@mea.gov.in) and Guangzhou (Visa.guangzhou@mea.gov.in)  to  apply  afresh  for  an  Indian visa.
4. The Indian Embassy in China continues to remain contactable 24x7 on two hotline numbers +8618610952903 & +8618612083629 and the dedicated email -helpdesk.beijing@mea.gov.in.  Indian  nationals  in  need  of any assistance may get in touch with the Embassy on these hotlines and email.
5. For any queries related to health, may contact on Ministry of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  24*7  helpline  number  +91-1123978046 or email at ncov2019@gmail.com.

*****

## ANNEXURE-IV

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PART (e) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1669 ANSWERED ON 02.03.2020 REGARDING IMPACT OF CORONA VIRUS ON TOURISM SECTOR

Press release of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare dated 26th Feb 2020.

## Update on Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19): New Travel Advisory.

In  view  of  the  evolving  situation  related  to  COVID-19  being reported from other countries, besides the travel advisories already issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, following additional directions are issued:

1. Indians  are  advised  to  refrain  from  non-essential  travel  to Republic of Korea, Iran and Italy.
2. People coming from Republic of Korea, Iran and Italy or having such travel history since 10th February 2020 may be quarantined for 14 days on arrival to India.
3. For  any  technical  queries,  may  contact  on   24*7  Health ministry  Control  Room  helpline  number   +91-11-23978046  or email at ncov2019@gmail.com.

*****