Lok Sabha Question No. 2127 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-08
Subject: Comprehensive Policy for Tourism Sector
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Kapil Moreshwar Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2127 ANSWERED ON 08.03.2021

## COMPREHENSIVE POLICY FOR TOURISM SECTOR

2127. SHRI MANOJ KOTAK: SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE:

SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  is  it  a  fact  that  Government  has  structured  several initiatives and relief measures to boost the tourism in India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the tourism sector contributes almost 10 per cent to the country's economy;
- (d) whether the Government  is planning to put in place a comprehensive policy for the growth of the tourism sector; and
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- Yes, Sir. The initiatives taken by the Ministry of Tourism and  relief  measures  announced  under  the  Atmanirbhar  Bharat
- (a) & (b): package are at Annexure.
- (c): As per estimation in accordance with 3 rd  TSA, the contribution of tourism (direct and indirect) in GDP was 5 per cent in 2018-19.
- (d)& (e): Yes,  sir.  The  new  National  Tourism  Policy  seeks to develop  and  promote  India  as  a  'Must  Experience'  and  'Must Revisit'  destination.  The  policy  will  target  the  following  eight Strategic Areas:
- i) Develop  Infrastructure-  To  strengthen  Physical,  IT  and Tourism Infrastructure of tourist destinations. ii) Enhance  Visitor Experience-  To  position India as a welcoming, safe, clean, hygienic and accessible destination. iii) Develop and Diversify Tourism Products: Develop India as a hub of Heritage Tourism, develop various niche tourism products,  market  specific  products  and  State  specific products. iv) Support  Business  Development  -  To  promote  Startups, MSMEs  and entrepreneurship in tourism sector, to improve ease of doing business. v) Facilitate  Skill  Development-  To  facilitate  availability  of skilled manpower for tourism sector. vi) Market India- To promote India aggressively in overseas and  domestic  markets  including  digital  marketing,  to position  tourism  as  a  vehicle  for  expanding  India's  soft power. vii) Assure  Quality-  To  provide  for  quality  assurance  and voluntary regulation. institutional
- viii)   To Build Institutional Capacity-Build capacity and enhance institutional linkages.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  &  (b)  OF LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2127 ANSWERED ON 08.03.2021

REGARDING COMPREHENSIVE POLICY FOR TOURISM SECTOR

## FISCAL AND RELIEF MEASURES UNDER ATMA NIRBHAR BHARAT PACKAGE

The stimulus package announced by the Government of India is outlined as under:

-  RBI has extended moratorium on term loans till 31 st  December 2020.
-  The  government  has  further  announced  Atmanirbhar  Bharat Package vide which Rs 3 lakh crore collateral free automatic loan has been made available for MSMEs. The loan will have 4year tenure and will have 12-month moratorium.
-  The Government waived off PF contribution for  three months for  organisations less than 100 pax and 90% employees earn below  Rs.  15000.  Under  Atmanirbhar  Bharat  package,  PF contribution of both employer and employee has been reduced to  10%  each  from  existing  12%  each  for  all  establishments covered  by EPFO  for the next three months  i.e. up to September 2020.
- 
- Deferment of TCS upto October 2020.
-  Return filing deferred for three months with no penal interest for companies upto Rs.5 Crore, rest @ 9% penal interest.
-  The  Central  government  has  also  given  relief  from  various regulatory compliances under Income Tax Act, Companies Act and GST Act for varying period in the wake of COVID-19 crisis to ensure business continuity and survival.

## INITIATIVES TAKEN BY MINISTRY OF TOURISM

The  following  steps  have  been  taken  to  overcome  the  crisis caused by Covid-19 pandemic in the tourism sector:

- i) 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
2. 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.
3. ii)      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.
4. 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  April, 2021.
5. 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)     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.
7. vi)     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.
8. vii) 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.

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