Lok Sabha Question No. 760 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-07
Subject: Partnership With Companies to Strengthen the Tourism Industry
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. +760 ANSWERED ON 07.02.2022

## PARTNERSHIP WITH COMPANIES TO STRENGTHEN THE TOURISM

## INDUSTRY

- +760.SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:
- SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  entered  into  partnership  with  any companies to strengthen the hospitality and tourism industry in the country especially during pandemic;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  so  that  the  tourism industry of Gujarat gets maximum benefits?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

## MINISTER OF TOURISM

- (a) & (b): The Ministry  of  Tourism  has  signed  MoUs  with  three  Online Travel Companies namely EaseMyTrip.com, Cleartrip Pvt. Ltd. and Yatra Online Pvt. Ltd. to get a clear picture on the geographical spread of the Hospitality Sector, its size, structure and existing capacity so as to offer relevant services to the Hospitality Industry [like assistance in COVID-19 preparedness  through  SAATHI  (System  for  Assessment,  Awareness  & Training for Hospitality Industry), Star Classification etc.], under National Integrated Database of the Hospitality Industry (NIDHI).

Further, the 'Adopt A Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan', initiative is  a  collaborative effort by Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), State/UTs Governments for promotion of Heritage Tourism which aims to encourage public sector companies,  private  sector  companies  and  corporate  citizens/NGOs/ individuals  to  take  up  the  responsibility  of  developing  and  upgrading tourist amenities at tourist sites.

- (c): The  measures  taken  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of India for the benefit of the tourism industry in the country, including that of Gujarat, are given at Annexure.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. +760 ANSWERED ON 07.02.2022 REGARDING PARTNERSHIP  WITH  COMPANIES  TO  STRENGTHEN  THE  TOURISM INDUSTRY

The  following  are  the  measures  taken  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism, Government  of  India  for  the  benefit  of  the  tourism  industry  in  the country:

- (i) 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.
- (ii) With a view to prepare for a post-COVID 19 revival, the Ministry has formulated  and  issued  detailed  operational  guidelines  for  Covid safety  and  hygiene  for  hotels,  restaurants,  B&Bs/Homestays  and Tourism  Service  Providers  on  08.06.2020  to  facilitate  smooth resumption of business.
- (iii) An initiative called SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness & Training for Hospitality Industry) has been developed 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) With  an  aim  to  incentivize  stakeholders  in  the  Tourism  industry, the Guidelines for the scheme of Market Development Assistance (MDA)  for  providing  financial  support  to  stakeholders  for  the promotion of Domestic Tourism have been modified to enhance the scope and reach of the scheme, so as to provide maximum benefits to  the  stakeholders.  Additional  promotional  activities  have  been incorporated including online promotions and the extent of financial assistance permissible has been enhanced.
- (v) Validity of approval or certification of hotels and other accommodation  units whose  project approval/re-approval and classification/re-classification  have  expired/were  likely  to  expire has been extended up to 31st March 2022.
- (vi) The Guidelines of the Marketing Development Assistance Programme  under  the  Overseas  Promotion  and  Publicity  Scheme has been modified to enhance the scope and reach of the scheme, so  as  to  provide  maximum  benefits  to  the  stakeholders  in  the tourism industry.
- (vii) Free Tourist Visa to 5 Lakh: As per the announcement, once Visa issuance is restarted, the first 5 Lakh Tourists Visas will be issued free of charge. The benefit of free of charge visa will be available only once per tourist during the issuance of the first 5 Lakh tourist visas (free of charge visas). The scheme will be applicable till 31 st March 2022 or till 5,00,000 visas are issued, whichever is earlier. (viii)  Financial  support  under  the  'Loan  Guarantee  Scheme  for  Covid Affected  Tourism  Service  Sector  (LGSCATSS)'.  The  scheme  will cover Regional Level Tourist Guides recognised by the Ministry of Tourism and Tourist Guides recognised by the State Governments/ UT  Administrations  and  Travel  and  Tourism  Stakeholders  (TTS) recognized by the Ministry of Tourism. TTS's will be eligible to get a  loan  upto  Rs.10  Lakh  each  while  tourist  guides  can  avail  loan upto Rs.1 Lakh each. There will be no processing charges, waiver of foreclosure/prepayment charges and no requirement of additional collateral. Scheme to be administered by the Ministry of Tourism through NCGTC. (ix) Recognising  the  fact  that  revival  in  the  tourism  sector  will  be largely  spearheaded  by  Domestic  tourism,  the  Ministry  initiated arranging  a  series  of  webinars  under  the  overall  theme  of  Dekho Apna  Desh.  The  objective  is  to  generate  awareness  and  at  the same  time  sustain  interest  amongst  stakeholders,  students  and the general public.
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