Lok Sabha Question No. 3606 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-20
Subject: Policy for Welfare of Tourism Employees
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Aparajita Sarangi

MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (e): The  Tourism  sector in the country including  Odisha  was affected due to pandemic.The Domestic and Foreign Tourist visits during the said period registered a decline details of same are given below:

| 2019     | 2019    | 2020     | 2020    | Growth rate   | Growth rate   |
|----------|---------|----------|---------|---------------|---------------|
| Domestic | Foreign | Domestic | Foreign | DTV           | FTV           |
| 15307637 | 115128  | 4622273  | 10206   | -69.8         | -91.14        |

The  details  of  measures  taken  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  to  revive  the tourism industry in the country including Odisha are at Annexure:

- (f): The comparative performance of the tourism sector during the years 2019 and 2020 is as follows:

|   Sl. No. | Parameter                                |      2019 |     2020 |
|-----------|------------------------------------------|-----------|----------|
|         1 | Foreign Tourist Visits (In Million)      |     31.41 |     7.17 |
|         2 | Domestic Tourist Visits (In Million)     |   2321.98 |   610.21 |
|         3 | Foreign Exchange Earnings (Rs. in Crore) | 211661    | 50136    |

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3606 ANSWERED ON 20.12.2021

## POLICY FOR WELFARE OF TOURISM EMPLOYEES

3606. SHRIMATI APARAJITA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether tourism in Odisha was affected during and post-pandemic;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the losses suffered in the industry;
- (c) whether the Government has taken measures to revive the tourism industry in Odisha and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  initiated  schemes  or  policy  for  the welfare of tourism employees across the country and specifically for Odisha;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the total beneficiaries thereunder; and
- (f) the comparative performance of the tourism sector during the years 2020-21 and 2019-20?

ANSWER

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3606 ANSWERED ON 20.12.2021 REGARDING POLICY FOR WELFARE OF TOURISM EMPLOYEES

The  details  of  measures  taken  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  to  revive  the tourism industry in the country including Odisha:

- i. The Government announced Atmanirbhar Bharat Package vide which Rs.3.00  lakh  crore  collateral  free  automatic  loan  has  been  made available for MSMEs. The loan will have 4- year tenure and 12-month moratorium.
- ii. The  Government  waived  off  PF  contribution  for  three  months  for organisations  with  less  than  100  pax  and  90%  of  their  employees earn below Rs.15000.
- iii. 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 three months.
- iv. The  Central  Government  also  gave  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.
- v. The RBI extended moratorium on term loans till 31 st  December 2020.
- vi. The  Government  announced  the  Emergency  Credit  Line  Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 3.0 on 31.3.2021 to support eligible Micro, Small and Medium  Enterprises  (MSMEs)  and  business  enterprises  in  meeting their operational liabilities and restarting their business. The scope of the scheme was enlarged to cover business enterprises in Hospitality,  Travel  &  Tourism  and  Leisure  &  Sporting  sectors.  The validity of ECLGS (ECLGS 1.0, ECLGS 2.0 & ECLGS 3.0) was extended up  to  30.06.2021  or  till  guarantees  for  an  amount  of  Rs.  3.00  lakh crore are issued. Last date of disbursement under the scheme was
7. extended to 30.09.2021.
- vii. Ministry of Finance has given concurrence to release Service Exports from  India  Scheme  (SEIS)  scrips  on  16.06.2021.  Earlier,  several Industry  stakeholders  had  flagged  appeals  to  the  Government  to release SEIS Scrips for 2019-20 and DGFT had put a detailed proposal for the allocation for SEIS for exports made during 2019-20. Taking all circumstances into account, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of  Finance  has  given  concurrence to  the  proposal  of  Department of Commerce  for  continuation  of  SEIS  for  2019-20  with  a  financial allocation of Rs.2061 crore subject to the condition that the amount will be provided through Expenditure Budget following the procedure of providing a New Minor Head.
- viii. On 28 th  June 2021, the Government announced a stimulus package to boost  diverse  sectors  of  economy  affected  by  COVID-19  pandemic
10. and  provide  impetus  for  growth  and  employment  measures.  The package comprises a total of 17 measures in three broad categories, which included 'Economic relief from Pandemic, with special focus on health  and  reviving  travel  and  tourism  sectors'  and  'Impetus  for Growth and employment'.
- ix. 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.
- x. 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.
- xi. 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 COVID19 and beyond for safe operations of Hotels, restaurants, B&Bs and other units.
- xii. 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.
- xiii. 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.
- xiv. Ministry of Tourism has implemented the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Covid  Affected  Tourism  Service  Sector  (LGSCATSS).  Under  this scheme, loan upto Rs. 10.00 lakh is extended to each Tour Operators/ Travel Agents/ Tourist Transport Operators approved/ recognized by the Ministry of Tourism. Loan upto Rs. 1.00 lakh is 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 Administration. Validity of  the  scheme  is  till  31.03.2022  or  till  the  guarantee  of  Rs.  250.00 crores are issued under the scheme.
17. Government  has  announced  issuing  5  lakh  free  tourist  visas  to
- xv. foreigners coming to India from 15 th  November 2021.

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