Lok Sabha Question No. 733 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-07
Subject: Relaxation to IATA Agents
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Girish Bhalchandra Bapat, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Shrirang Appa Barne, Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Sudheer Gupta, Pritam Gopinath Munde, Ravindra Kushawaha, Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Prataprao  Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 733

## ANSWERED ON 07.02.2022

## RELAXATION TO IATA AGENTS

## 733.  SHRI GIRISH BHALCHANDRA BAPAT:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the services sector is the largest contributor to the Gross Domestic Product and travel trade is the most significant one among all;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Travel  Agents  Association  of  India  (TAAI)  has urged  the  Government  to  relax  norms  for  its  International  Air Transport Association (IATA) accredited agents and also make the registration process automated and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the TAAI has requested the Government to undertake Statewise registration of the trade members for accreditation along with the  travel  agents  body  and  if  so,  the  measures  taken  by  the Government in this regard as well as to help the tourism industry;
- (d) whether the present Omicron variant of Covid19 has put a shackle on  fast  recovering  tourism  industry  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  given  any  relaxation/  considering  to give any relaxation in visa norms to attract international tourists to

boost the tourism industry in the country in wake of Omicron variant and if so, the details thereof; and

- (f) whether the Government proposes to develop new tourism clusters across the country and if so, the details thereof, destination-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b)  to  (c):  To  ensure  standardized  services  for  tourists,  the  Ministry  of Tourism  Government  of  India  gives  approval  to  different  categories  of service  providers  in  the  Travel  and  Hospitality  industry  including  Tour Operators/Travel  Agents/Tourist  Transport  Operators  etc  in  accordance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry in each category. This is purely a voluntary scheme and it is not mandatory for the service providers to seek approval of the Ministry for conducting its business.

Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has sought relaxation of guidelines  for  giving  recognition  to  the  travel  agents  by  the  Ministry. Among other things, it has sought automatic recognition to their members as most of them are members of International Air Transport Association (IATA).

In this respect it may be submitted that the Ministry of Tourism revised its guidelines for giving recognition to the tour operators, travel agents and tourist transport operators in December, 2020, only. Substantial changes have  been  made,  specially  keeping  in  view  of  the  pandemic  situation caused by Covid-19. These include the following: -

1.  A  new  category  of  Green-shoot  has  been  introduced.  Prior  oneyear experience requirement has been done  away with in this category.
2.  For experienced category, the turnover requirement has been lowered,
3. For tour operator's/travel agents having annual turnover lower than Rs. 10Cr. -following relaxations have been given:
- a. the requirement of a office space of has been done away with.
- b. the requirement of qualified staff has been lowered to two, in which  director/owner  of  the  agency  is  taken  as  a  qualified staff.

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

Therefore, it has not been found feasible to give further relaxation as  if  might  impact  the  assured  service  quality  of  the  recognized  travel agents. (d): Yes, Sir. The decision taken by the Government to resume schedule commercial international  flights  w.e.f.  15.12.2021  has  been  put  on  hold and the same has been suspended till 28.02.2022 due to emergence of the Omicron  variant  of  the  Covid  19.  This  resulted  in  a  big  setback  for  the recovery of inbound tourism industry. (e): 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  e-Tourist  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  fee  to  the international tourists. (f): The Ministry  of  Tourism  launched  its  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  in the  year  2014-15  under  which  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  the State/UT  Administrations/  Central  Agencies  for  development  of  Tourism Infrastructure.   This financial assistance  is  provided in  consultation  with States / UT Administrations. Since its inception in 2014-15 till 2018-19, a total number of 76 projects under 13 thematic circuits, have been sanctioned in the country for a revised sanction amount of Rs. 5503.84 Crore  and Rs.  4442.18  Crore has been released.   The  projects under  this scheme  are  sanctioned  subject  to  availability  of funds, submission  of  suitable  Detailed  Project  Reports,  adherence  to  scheme guidelines and utilization of funds released earlier etc. The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  framed  'Development  of  Iconic  Tourist Destinations  Scheme'.  The  Scheme  is  not  approved  and  hence  further details are not finalized.

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