Lok Sabha Question No. 1077 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-08
Subject: Loss of Revenue to Tourism Industry during Pandemic
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru, Pratima Mondal, Manickam Tagore B

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1077 ANSWERED ON 08.02.2021

## LOSS OF REVENUE TO TOURISM INDUSTRY DURING PANDEMIC

1077. SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHNA RAJU:
2. SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL: SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B.:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the high revenue losses being  suffered  by  the  tourism  sector  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  recommendations  from the associations of tourism sector urging the Government to come to their rescue in this dithering situation;
- (c) if so, the details of the concessions and exemptions sought for their survival and the steps being taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) whether the Government has any plan to boost tourism sector with protective measures and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  issued  any  notification  in  this  regard and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  taken  by  the Government to get tourism sector on progressive track?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): The Ministry of Tourism does not maintain data on revenue generated from  tourism.   However,  the  Ministry  has  engaged  National  Council  of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) to conduct study on 'India and the Coronavirus  Pandemic:  Economic  Losses  for  Households  Engaged  in Tourism and Policies for Recovery'.
- (b) & (c): Yes, sir. The recommendations from the Associations of
- tourism sector for restoration of the sector is at Annexure-I.
- (d) & (e): The Ministry of Tourism recognizes the importance of protective steps and relief measures to ensure the survival and revival of the industry. The steps taken in the direction of getting the tourism sector on progressive track are at Annexure-II.

*******

******

## ANNEXURE-I

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (b) & (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.1077  ANSWERED  ON  08.02.2021  REGARDING  LOSS  OF REVENUE TO TOURISM INDUSTRY DURING PANDEMIC

## RECOMMENDATIONS BY ASSOCIATIONS FOR TOURISM SECTOR

The following recommendations were put forward by CII for the survival and revival of the tourism industry:

## (I) Economic Package

1. Opening of Economic Activities
2. Liquidity Enhancement
3. Making loans more accessible
4. TCS exemption under GST
5. Stimulating Domestic Tourism in India
6. E-visa
7. Leave Travel Allowance (LTA)
8. GST
9. Creating barrier free environment
10. COVID Passport for easing travel-test certificate acceptance
11. Promote Cities as Tourism Hubs
12. Develop an I am Incredible program for People in Tourism

## (II)  Policy Support

1. Infrastructure Status
2. Declare hotels capex above INR 25 Crs. Capex (excluding land) as Infrastructure.
3. Creation of Empowered National Tourism Board with private sector involvement and Professionals on board to run various aspects.
4. Marketing Campaign through PPP Model
5. Formulation of Taskforce
6. Building Customer Confidence

## (III) COVID TESTING PROTOCOLS FOR OPENING UP TRAVEL SAFELY

1. For International air Travel
2. For Domestic Air Travel
3. Inter-state Quarantine requirements.
4. Hotel Accommodation

## ANNEXURE-II

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (d) & (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.1077  ANSWERED  ON  08.02.2021  REGARDING  LOSS  OF REVENUE TO TOURISM INDUSTRY DURING PANDEMIC

## STEPS TO OVERCOME CRISIS CAUSED BY COVID- 19 PANDEMIC IN THE TOURISM SECTOR

The Ministry of Tourism has taken the following steps to overcome the crisis caused by Covid-19 pandemic in the tourism sector:

- i. 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.
- ii. 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.
- iii. 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.
- iv. 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.
- v. 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.
- vi. In  addition  to  the  above  steps  taken  by  Ministry  of  Tourism,  other agencies/Ministries of Government of India have declared stimulus packages like loan moratorium, waived off PF contribution, deferment of TCS up to October 2020, collateral free automatic loan under Atamnirbhar Bharat package etc. to revive the economy and industry including units of the hospitality industry.

******