Lok Sabha Question No. 1098 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-17
Subject: Impact of Zika Virus on Tourism Sector
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: S. RAJENDRAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, SUDHEER GUPTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1098 ANSWERED ON 17.12.2018

## IMPACT OF ZIKA VIRUS ON TOURISM SECTOR

1098. SHRI S. RAJENDRAN:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether attention of the Government has been drawn towards outbreak of the Zika Virus in some parts of the tourist places in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether some countries have issued advisory to their Nationals,  not  to  travel/postpone  trips  to  the  area,  part  of India's  popular  tourist  places  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof, country-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  impact  on  Indian tourism by such a move;
- (d) if so, the details and the outcome thereof along with the likely loss of foreign exchange revenue therefrom; and
- (e) the corrective measures taken/being taken by the Government to  stop  the  spread  of  such  virus  in  tourist  places  of  the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a): As  per  the  information  received  from  the  Ministry  of  Health and  Family  Welfare,  the  cases  of  Zika  Virus  Disease  have  been reported from the States of Rajasthan (Jaipur), Gujarat (Ahmedabad)

- and Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal, Vidisha, Sehore, Hoshangabad, Sagar and Raisen) during the period of September to November, 2018.
- (b): No advisory has been issued by other countries for travel to India,  except  in  the  case  of  the  Republic  of  Korea  which  has advised their citizens to take precautionary measures while travelling  to  Jaipur  such  as  use  of  mosquito  repellent,  wear  long sleeved tops and pants etc.
- (c) and (d): There  has  been  an  increase  in  number  of  Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India and the Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through tourism in India during 2018. The number of FTAs in India during January -November 2018 were 9.37 million (provisional) registering growth of 5.6% over same period of 2017. The  FEEs  through  tourism  in  India  during  January  -  October  2018 were  Rs.1,58,846/-  crore  registering  growth  of  11.9%  over  same period of 2017.
- (e): As  per  information  received  from  the  Ministry  of  Health  and Family  Welfare,  the  following  steps  have  been  taken  to  contain further spread of Zika virus disease:
-  The  Zika  action  plan  was  implemented  in  all  the  affected States.
- (Rajasthan), Ahmedabad  (Gujarat)  and  to  Bhopal,  Vidisha,  Sehore  and Sagar Districts of Madhya Pradesh to assist these States in
-  Central teams were deployed to Jaipur containment operations.
-  Hon'ble  HFM  and  senior  officers  of  the  Ministry  reviewed the situation on regular basis and modulated the action for containment.
-  Union  Secretary  Health  &  FW  reviewed  the  situation  and preparedness  to  Zika  virus  diseases  in  all  States  through video conferencing with the States.
-  Advisory were issued to all States/UTs to strengthen vector control activities and surveillance for Zika virus disease.
-  Senior officers of the Ministry visited the States of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to oversee the containment operations.
-  Joint  Monitoring  Group  under  the  chairmanship  of  DGHS met regularly  to  review  the  current  situation  of  Zika  virus disease in the affected States.
-  Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research  supported  the  Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL) in the affected States for testing clinical samples.
-  IEC material prepared by MoHFW were provided to the three affected States.
-  Surveillance  strategy  to  ensure  that  the  disease  has  not spread beyond the containment zone has been provided to the State of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
-  Financial  support  was  ensured  through  National  Health Mission.

*******