Lok Sabha Question No. 24 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-14
Subject: Revival of Tourism Sector After Covid-19 Pandemic
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh, D.K. Suresh, Kaushalendra Kumar, Diya Kumari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.24 ANSWERED ON 14.09.2020

## REVIVAL OF TOURISM SECTOR AFTER COVID-19 PANDEMIC

- 24.
- SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH:

SHRI D.K.SURESH:

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

MS. DIYA KUMARI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the tourism sector in the country has been devastated by the Corona pandemic;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  any  estimate  about  losses incurred in tourism sector so far;
- (c) whether it is also true that 4-5 crore people lost their jobs in the tourism industry due to the corona pandemic;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to revive the tourism sector in the country; and
- the  plans  of  the  Government  to  implement  the  Standard
- (e) operating Procedure in the future?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) : Yes,  Sir.  The  sector  has  been  severely  impacted  by  the Corona pandemic.
- (b) & (c): No formal study has been instituted for assessment of the  impact  on  the  losses  suffered  by  the  industry.  However, several  rounds  of  discussions  and  brainstorming  sessions  with industry stakeholders indicate massive loss of jobs. In view of the highly unorganized nature of the sector, the impact in numerical terms can only be ascertained in due course.

## (d) & (e): 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 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.
- (ii) Validity of approval or certifications of hotels and other accommodation units whose project approval/reapproval and classification/re-classification have expired / were likely to expire, has been extended upto 30 th  September, 2020.
- (iii) 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.
- (iv) Operational  Recommendations  for  safe  resumption  of business  with  easing  of  lockdown  restrictions  have been  issued  for  various  segments  of  the  travel  and hospitality industry and circulated amongst all stakeholders.
- (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) In  addition  to  the  above  steps  taken  by  Ministry  of Tourism,  other  agencies/Ministries  of      Government  of India have declared stimulus packages like loan moratorium,  waived  off  PF  contribution,  deferment  of TCS up to October 2020, collateral  free  automatic  loan under  Atmanirbhar  Bharat  package  etc.  to  revive  the economy  and  industry  including  units  of  the  hospitality industry.

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