Lok Sabha Question No. 1304 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-25
Subject: Special Scheme to Boost Tourism in Udaipur
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Arjunlal Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†1304 ANSWERED ON 25.07.2022

## SPECIAL SCHEME TO BOOST TOURISM IN UDAIPUR

†1304. SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any measure has been undertaken by the Government to make  up  for  the  losses  incurred  by  the  tourism  sector  during Covid-19 pandemic;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  any  special  scheme  has  been  formulated  to  boost tourism in Udaipur, Rajasthan;
- (d)
- (e)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

- if so, the details thereof; and
- if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a)  &  (b):  The  detail  of  various  fiscal  and  non-fiscal  relief  measures announced by the Government of India, which are expected to assist the  tourism  to  alleviate  the  losses  incurred  by  the  tourism  sector during the Covid - 19 pandemic are given at Annexure.

(c)  to  (e):  The  Ministry  of  Tourism  under  the  schemes  of  'Swadesh Darshan' and 'National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual,  Heritage  Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' provides financial assistance  for  development  of  tourism  infrastructure  in  the  country, further  to  submission  of  complete  project  proposals  by  the  State Government/UTs, including Rajasthan and this is a continuous process. The projects are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable Detailed Project Reports, adherence to scheme guidelines and utilization of funds released earlier.

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- v.

## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.†1304  ANSWERED  ON  25.07.2022  REGARDING  SPECIAL SCHEME TO BOOST TOURISM IN UDAIPUR.

The  following  are  the  various  fiscal  relief  measures  announced  by  the Government for redeveloping post-covid tourism sector of the country:

- i. The  Government  announced  Atmanirbhar  Bharat  Package  vide which Rs.3.00 lakh crore collateral free automatic loan was made available  for  MSMEs.  The  loan  will  have  4-  year  tenure  and  12month moratorium.
- ii. Under Atmanirbhar Bharat package, PF contribution of both employer  and  employee  was  reduced  to  10%  each  from  existing 12% each for all establishments covered by EPFO for three months
- iii. Return  filing  deferred  for  three  months  with  no  penal  interest  for companies up to Rs.5.00 Crore, rest @ 9% penal interest.
- iv. The  Government  waived  off  PF  contribution  for  three  months  for organisations with less than 100 pax and 90% of their employees
5. earn below Rs.15000.
6. Deferment of TCS up to October 2020.
- vi. 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.
- vii. 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. Provision of additional corpus of Rs. 50,000 crores has also been made for hospitality sector. The validity of ECLGS (ECLGS 1.0, ECLGS 2.0 & ECLGS 3.0) has been extended till 31.03.2023 or till guarantees for an amount of Rs. 5.00 lakh crores are issued.
- viii. Ministry  of  Finance  has  given  concurrence  to  release  Service Exports  from  India  Scheme  (SEIS)  scrips  on  16.06.2021.  Earlier,
10. 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.
- ix. On 28 th  June 2021, the Government announced a stimulus package to boost diverse sectors of economy affected by COVID-19 pandemic 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'.
- x. Ministry  of  Tourism  launched  'Loan  Guarantee  Scheme  for  Covid Affected  Tourism  Service  Sector  (LGSCATSS)',  which  aims  at extending  collateral  free  loan  to  the  distressed  tourism  sector  to help  them  discharge  their  liabilities  and  restart  their  business affected  due  to  Covid-19  pandemic  under  this  scheme,  collateral free Loan upto Rs.10.00 lakh each may be availed by MoT approved Tour  operator/Travel  Agents/Tourist  Transport  Operators and upto Rs.1.00 lakh each may be availed by RLGs/IITGs approved by MoT and Tourist Guides approved by State Government/UT Administration. The scheme  is  already operational through 18 Scheduled  Commercial  Banks. Validity  of  the  scheme  has  been extended  by  one  more  year  i.e.  till  31 st  March,  2023  or  till  the guarantee of Rs. 250.00 crores are issued under the scheme.
- xi. 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.
- xii. 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 COVID-
15. 19 and beyond for safe operations of Hotels, restaurants, B&Bs and other units.
- xiii. Validity of approval or certification of hotels and other accommodation units whose project approval/re-approval and classification/re-classification  have  expired/were  likely  to  expire was extended up to 31 st  March 2022
- xiv. 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. 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.
- xv. For the purpose of restarting inbound tourism and attracting foreign tourists  in  the  country,  Government  of  India  extended  first  5  lakh visas to the foreign tourists from potential tourism markets, free of cost. The benefit of free of charge visa will be available only once per tourist during the issuance of the first 5 lakh tourist visas.
- xvi. Owning to the situation which arose out of COVID19 pandemic, Ministry  of  Tourism  in  consultation  with  Ministry  of Health & Family Welfare issues guidelines/directions to the Tourism Stakeholders, Hotels and Restaurants to facilitate smooth resumption of business.
- xvii. Ministry of Home  Affairs restored e-Tourist Visa for foreign nationals of 156 countries w.e.f. 15 th  March, 2022. Also, after having recognized  the  increased  vaccination  coverage  across  the  globe and in consultation with the stakeholders, the Government of India resumed scheduled  commercial  international  passenger  services to/from India w.e.f. 27 th  March, 2022.

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