Lok Sabha Question No. 3573 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-20
Subject: Agreement With IRCTC to Strengthen Tourism Industry
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Bhartruhari Mahtab

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3573

## ANSWERED ON 20.12.2021

## AGREEMENT WITH IRCTC TO STRENGTHEN TOURISM INDUSTRY

## 3573. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

Will   the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry has signed an agreement with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to strengthen the hospitality and tourism industry;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  necessary  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the Government to encourage and promote strategic and technical  cooperation  in  the  Indian  hospitality  and  tourism sector;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  areas  identified  for promotion of the tourism industry in the country; and
- (e) the other necessary  steps taken by  the  Government  to strengthen  the  hospitality  and  tourism  industry  after  the coronavirus pandemic left it in heavy losses?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TOURISM                                   (Shri G. Kishan Reddy)

(a) to (d): Yes,  Sir.  The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  signed  an  (MoU) Memorandum of Understanding with Indian Railways Catering and Tourism  Corporation  (IRCTC)  to  cooperate  for  promotion  and marketing  of  Tourism,  and  considering  the  need  to  develop synergy in the efforts for the purpose. The details of the MoU is Annexed.

Ministry of Tourism, promotes India in a holistic manner.  As part  of its  on-going  activities,  it  releases  global  print,  electronic and  online  media  campaigns  in important  and  potential  markets overseas,  under  the  'Incredible India' brand-line,  to  promote various tourism destinations and products of the country.

Promotions  are  also  undertaken  through  the  website  and  Social

Media accounts of the Ministry.

(e):  Followings  are  the  other  necessary  steps  taken  by  the Government  to  strengthen  the  hospitality  and  tourism  industry after the coronavirus pandemic: -

- (i) The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has relaxed the restriction for all foreign nationals intended to visit India for Tourism purposes subject to the Covid related guidelines of the  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  (MoH&FW).  The  eTourist  Visa  /  Tourist  Visa  is fully  restored  for  all  individual foreign nationals intended to visit India for tourism purposes w.e.f.  15th November,  2021.  Initially,  the  e-  Tourist  /  Tourist Visa is being issued with the validity of 30 days. Further, the Government of India has announced first 500,000 free visa to the international tourists.
- (ii) Market Development Scheme (MDA) for promotion of Domestic Tourism:

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  revised  the  Guidelines  for Scheme of Market Development Assistance (MDA) for promotion of Domestic Tourism in November 2020 to enhance the scope and reach of the scheme. As per the guidelines, the stakeholders  are  provided  with  financial  support  for  the promotion of Domestic Tourism. Additional promotional activities have been incorporated including online promotions and the extent of financial  assistance  permissible  has  been enhanced.  Tourism  Departments  of  State  Governments  /  UT Administrations  are  also  now  eligible  for  obtaining  financial support under the scheme.

- (iii)   Loan  Guarantee  Scheme  for  Covid  Affected  Tourism  Service Sector (LGSCATSS)

As announcement by the Ministry of Finance on 28.06.2021 to provide relief to the tourism sector, Ministry of Tourism  has  implemented  the  "Loan  Guarantee  Scheme  for Covid  Affected  Tourism  Service  Sector  (LGSCATSS)".  Under this  loan  guarantee scheme, loan upto Rs.10.00 lakh will be extended  to  each  Tour  Operators/  Travel  Agents/  Tourist Transport Operators approved/ recognized by the Ministry of Tourism, upto Rs. 1.00 lakh will be extended to each Regional Tourist Guide/ Incredible India Tourist Guide approved/recognized  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  and  Tourist Guides approved/ recognized by  the State Govt./ UT

The purpose of the LGSCATSS of the Ministry of Tourism is to provide guarantee coverage for the loans provided by the Scheduled Commercial Banks to the above mentioned beneficiaries,  to  discharge  their  liabilities  and  restart  their

Validity of the said scheme is till 31.03.2022 or till the guarantee of Rs.250.00 crores are issued under the scheme, whichever  is  earlier  and  would  be  applicable  to  all  eligible loans  sanctioned  under  the  scheme  on  or  after  04.10.2021 issuance of LGSCATSS guidelines by National Credit Guarantee  Trustee  Company  (NCGTC)  till  31.03.2022.  No guarantee  fee  will  be  charged  from  the  Money  Lending Institutions (MLIs) by NCGTC for the credit facilities provided

Administration. business affected due to Covid-19 pandemic. under the Scheme.

- ********

## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3573 ANSWERED ON 20.12.2021 REGARDING AGREEMENT WITH IRCTC TO STRENGTHEN TOURISM INDUSTRY

The Details of MoU with Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation  (IRCTC)  to  cooperate  for  promotion  and  marketing  of

Tourism

The  Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of  India  and  Indian Railway  Catering  and  Tourism  Corporation  (IRCTC),  hereinafter referred to as the first party and the second party respectively. Desiring to cooperate for promotion and marketing of Tourism, and considering  the  need  to  develop  synergy  in  the  efforts  for  the purpose, have entered into the following Agreement:

- I. IRCTC will provide MOT the following number of complimentary journeys aboard Maharajas Express & Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train subject to availability:
2. i.
3. Maharajas' Express - 30 persons per year
- ii. Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train- 30 persons in 1st AC per year

The passage would be for maximum of 4 persons at a time on a trip on any of the trains. The nomination would be advised officially by MOT.

## II. IRCTC would provide following:

- i. Provide a link to the promotional website of MOT www.incredibleindia.org on the IRCTC's tourism websites viz. rail tourism in www.irctctourism.com, www.irctc.co.in, www.irctcbuddhisttrain.com and www.the-maharajas.com.
2. of  MoT brochures  &
- ii. IRCTC will incorporate the promotional website www.incredibleindia.org in their promotional posters.
- iii. IRCTC will display Incredible India posters provided by MOT on the  Buddhist  Circuit  to  showcase  other  destinations  of  the country to   tourists travelling on the train.
- iv. Distribution  of  Incredible  India  promotional  material  provided by   MOT to tourists travelling with IRCTC.
- v. Development of new tourism products with the support of MOT and jointly promoting the same in the domestic & international markets.
- vi. Participation  of  IRCTC  in  meetings,  seminars,  webinars  and events  held  with  stakeholders  such  as  ADTOI,  IATA,  IATO, Hotel Associations etc.
- vii. All tourism promotional material of IRCTC to display incredible India Logo and Incredible India website (www.incredibleindia.org).
- viii. IRCTC will promote Incredible India Tourist Helpline No. 180011-1363/ short code- 1363 in all their promotional material and on all websites of IRCTC.
- ix. IRCTC  will provide Educational  Tours for the University, Schools  and  Collages  with  special  focus  to  North  Eastern Region and Jammu & Kashmir.
- x. IRCTC  to  extend  the  validity  of  the  passages  offered  in  the earlier  MoU  by  another  one  year  to  enable  realisation  of  the deliverables by MoT.
12. I.
13. MOT would provide IRCTC the following:
- i. Link  to  IRCTC  Tourism  website  www.irctctourism.com  on MOT website.
15. Complimentary  space  of  8  sq.  mtr.  to  IRCTC  in  the  India Pavilions  set  up  by  the  MOT  at  ITB  Berlin,  FITUR  Spain  and WTM London and 4 sq. mtr. Complimentary space at three (3) additional travel shows where MOT participates as per choice
- ii. of IRCTC.
- iii. Participation of IRCTC in the Road Shows being organized by the MOT in the domestic market and important source markets overseas.
- iv. Inclusion  of  relevant  images  /  promotional  film  of  the  luxury and other trains of IRCTC, in the presentations made by MOT and its overseas offices at various promotional events (IRCTC to provide the images / promotional film).
- v. Distribution of publicity material of IRCTC through the domestic and overseas Indiatourism offices.
- vi. Inclusion  of   IRCTC  24  ×  7  contacts  i.e.  1800110139  in  the
21. Ministry of Tourism web site www.incredibleindia.org. vii. Link  to  IRCTC  tourism  website  on  www.incredibleindia.org  & other promotional website (s) of MOT. viii. Assistance  by  MOT  tourism  offices  overseas  in  organizing meetings and networking with agents whenever IRCTC team visits  various  countries  for  marketing  of  Maharajas'  Express and  Buddhist  Circuit  Tourist  Train.  This  will  be  subject  to availability of resources in the concerned overseas offices. No financial  assistance  would  be  available  from  MOT  for  the above. ix. Assistance by MOT in putting up IRCTC's proposals involving central and State Govt. Ministries such as tourism, environment, culture, education etc.
- x. The validity of this MOU will be for two years from the date of signing of this MOU.

Date of signing of MoU: 13.09.2021 Place: New Delhi *********