Lok Sabha Question No. 56 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-14
Subject: Use of Technology for Revival of Tourism Sector After Covid-19 Pandemic
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Annasaheb Shankar Jolle

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.56 ANSWERED ON 14.09.2020

## USE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR REVIVAL OF TOURISM SECTOR AFTER COVID-19 PANDEMIC

56. SHRI ANNASAHEB SHANKAR JOLLE.:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by tourism ministry to reinvigorate the sector post covid world;
- (b) whether  use  of  technologies  has  been  envisaged  in  the process; and
- (c) the details of the initiatives taken in the covid times?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c):  The  following  steps  have  been  taken  to  overcome  the crisis caused by Covid-19 pandemic in the tourism sector:
- (i)      Detailed  operational  guidelines  for  Covid  safety  and  hygiene has been prepared in order to create awareness, training and assessment of compliance of the guidelines.  The  program  is aimed  at  building  the  capacity  of  the  Hospitality  industry particularly small and medium units to restart and grow their
- business.
- (ii)    Operational  recommendations  for  hotels,  restaurants,  B&Bs/ Home stays and Tourism Service Providers have been formulated  and  issued  on  08.06.2020  to  facilitate  smooth resumption of business.
- (iii)    Validity  of  approval  or  certifications  of  hotels  and  other accommodation units whose project approval / re-approval and
- classification  /  re-classification  have  expired  /  were  likely  to expire, has been extended upto 30 th  September, 2020.
- (iv) The Ministry has developed an initiative called SAATHI (System  for  Assessment,  Awareness  &  Training  for Hospitality Industry), 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.
- (v) Recognition of Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Tourist Transport  Operators  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  been extended  automatically  by  six  months.  Those  who  have submitted  applications  for  recognition  by  the  Ministry  have been  given  provisional  recognition  for  six  months,  pending completion of required procedures.
- (vi) The guidelines for offering financial assistance to stakeholders under  the  Marketing  Development  Assistance  Scheme  are  in the  process  of  revision  with  the  objective  of  enhancing  the scope and reach of the Scheme.
- (vii) The Ministry had launched the Dekho Apna Desh(DAD) initiative in January 2020. DAD is promoted extensively  on  social  media  accounts  and  website  of  the Ministry  and  by  Domestic  India  Tourism  offices.  Under  this initiative  Ministry  carries  out  series  of  webinars  showcasing the diverse culture, heritage, destinations and tourism products  of  the  country.  To  create  mass  awareness,  the Ministry has also launched online pledge and Quiz on DAD on MyGov.in platform.
- (viii) The  Ministry  has  focussed  on  domestic  tourism  through  a number of innovative steps like promotion of products, festivals,  cuisines  etc.  of  the  country  on  its  social  media handles. It is also organizing activities to promote the concept of Ek  Bharat  Shrestha  Bharat.  It  has  commissioned  aerial photography of several cities during the lock down to  promote these  destinations.  Similarly,  the  last  mile  connectivity  is being targeted by viability gap funding through RCS-UDAN and discussions with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

(MoRTH)  regarding  improving  road  connectivity  to  important tourist destinations. The ministry has planned a detailed strategy to utilize technology to the fullest extent to overcome the setback created by the pandemic. Incredible India digital platform, in collaboration with Google, features  a  variety  of  360  degree  walk-throughs  and  stories  for prominent  tourist  attractions  across  the  country.  The  content  is provisioned on major tourist destination pages within the Incredible India website. These embedded walk-throughs provide an engaging experience  to  the  viewer  by  providing  them  with  immersive  360 degree photos. 360 degree walk-throughs have also been provisioned for prominent World Heritage Sites in India. Digital  media  will  be  utilized  fully  to  promote  and  spread awareness about the tourist destinations and activities and involve people to prepare them for their visits when the situation becomes normal. Incredible India Web Portal and Mobile App is further being enriched with content and tourist friendly features offering a high degree of personalization. The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  launched  the  Incredible  India Tourist Facilitator (IITF) Certification Programme -a digital initiative that aims at creating an Online learning platform with the objective of creating a pool of well trained and professional Tourist Facilitators  across  the  country. This  will help  in creation  of employment at the local level and even in the remote areas of the country having tourism potential.

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