Lok Sabha Question No. 940 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-08
Subject: Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Indian Tourism Industry
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Rahul Gandhi, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Thomas Chazhikadan, Karti P. Chidambaram, Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.940 ANSWERED ON 08.02.2021

## IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON INDIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY

## 940.  SHRI RAHUL GANDHI:

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB: SHRI THOMAS CHAZHIKADAN: SHRI KARTI P. CHIDAMBARAM: ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the tourism sector has been badly affected due to Covid19 pandemic and if so, the details thereof by indicating the number of tourists visited the country during September to December, 2020 month-wise and the number of tourists visited the country during the same period in 2019;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  impact  of  COVID-19 pandemic  on  the  Indian  tourism  industry  and  if  so,  the  details thereof  along  with  the  information  on  job  losses  since  February, 2020;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to announce economic package for the revival of tourism industry and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to help the tourism sector to prepare for new opportunities and adapt to the new realities in the post-pandemic world along with the measures taken to revive the domestic tourism; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  plans  to  set  up  a  vaccine  certification programme for foreign tourists to help revive International tourism in view of the vaccine roll out in progress in India as well as major countries around the world along with the measures being taken to
- ensure COVID remains contained in tourist destinations?

## ANSWER

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

(a):  Yes sir.  The details indicating the no. of tourists visited the country during April 2020 to December 2020 vis-à-vis no. of tourists who visited the country during the same period in 2019 is at Annexure-I.

(b): The closure of the travel and tourism industry has had a cascading effect  on  the  livelihood  of  people  dependant  on  tourism.   The  Ministry has  engaged  NCAER  to  conduct  a  study  on  "India  and  Coronavirus Pandemic:  Economic  losses  for  Households  Engaged  in  Tourism  and Policies  for  Recovery".  Since  the  situation  is  still  evolving,  the  final impact can only be ascertained in due course. (c) & (d): The economic package announced by the Govt. of India under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat, steps taken to help the tourism sector to adapt to the new realities in the post pandemic world and measures taken to revive domestic tourism is at Annexure-II. (e): The  Government  of  India's  COVID-19  vaccination  programme  will provide  priority  to healthcare and  frontline  workers  followed  by  those above 50 years of age and then under-50 population groups.   No plan for setting  up  a  vaccine  certification  programme  for  foreign  tourists has been announced yet.

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ANNEXURE-I STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.940 ANSWERED ON 08.02.2021 REGARDING IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON INDIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY. MONTH-WISE FOREIGNER ARRIVAL DURING APRIL 2020 TO DECEMBER 2020 VIS-À-VIS APRIL 2019 TO DECEMBER 2019

| MONTH   |   ARRIVAL | MONTH   |   ARRIVAL |
|---------|-----------|---------|-----------|
| Apr-19  |    774651 | Apr-20  |       470 |
| May-19  |    615136 | May-20  |      1329 |
| Jun-19  |    726446 | Jun-20  |      4480 |
| Jul-19  |    818125 | Jul-20  |      6503 |
| Aug-19  |    800837 | Aug-20  |     11619 |
| Sep-19  |    751513 | Sep-20  |     18469 |
| Oct-19  |    945017 | Oct-20  |     30917 |
| Nov-19  |   1092440 | Nov-20  |     60156 |
| Dec-19  |   1226398 | Dec-20  |     79910 |

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## ANNEXURE-II

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (c)  &  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.940 ANSWERED ON 08.02.2021 REGARDING IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON INDIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY.

## FISCAL  AND  RELIEF  MEASURES  UNDER  ATMA  NIRBHAR  BHARAT PACKAGE

The Government announced various fiscal and relief measures  under  the  Atma  Nirbhar  Bharat  Package  to  benefit  the Tourism Industry. The stimulus package announced by the Government of India is outlined as under:

-  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. Further, RBI has extended moratorium on term loans till 31 st  December 2020.

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