Lok Sabha Question No. 97 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-29
Subject: Steps Taken to Promote Tourism After Pandemic
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT  OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.97 ANSWERED ON 29.11.2021

## STEPS TAKEN TO PROMOTE TOURISM AFTER PANDEMIC

## 97. PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased  to state

- (a) the details of steps taken to promote responsible tourism in
- the country;
- (b)  whether the tourism sector has been badly affected due to the
- pandemic;
- (c) if so, the details of action to rejuvenate the tourism sector in the country;
- (d) whether there is a steep fall in the number of tourists; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and relaxations announced so far to
- attract the tourists?

MTNTSTER OF TOURTSM

## ANSWER

(SHRI. G. KTSHAN REDDY)

- (a) & (b): Ministry of Tourism has recognized the immense potential of  responsible/sustainable  tourism in  becoming a  source of sustainable livelihoods and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. ln this connection, the Ministry has taken following steps:
- (i). Evolved Sustainable Tourism Griteria for lndia (STCI) for major segments of the tourism industry. The Griteria has been evolved
- after consultations with the various stakeholders.
- (ii)  Formulated  a  draft National Strategy and Roadmap for
- Sustainable Tourasm.
- (iii) Formulated  guidelines for classification of hotels under various categories, which require hotels to incorporate various eco-friendly measures like  Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), Rain Water Harvesting System, waste management system, pollution control, introduction of non-Ghlorofluorocarbon (CFG) equipment for
- refrigeration and air conditioning, measures  for energy and water conservation  etc.
- (iv) Prescribed that the architecture  of the hotel buildings in hiily
- (v) Tour operators  approved by Ministry of Tourism have to sign a pledge  for commitment  towards safe & Honourabre  and sustainabte Tourism to  fully  implement Sustainable Tourism practices, consistent  with the best environment  and heritage protection standards.
- and ecologically  fragire areas shourd be sustainabre  and energy efficient and as far as possible  be in conformity with the Iocal ethos and make use of local designs and material.
- (b) & (c): Tourism  sector has been severely hit by the pandemic  and the action taken by the Government to rejuvenate the sector is placed at Annexure:
- (d) & (e): The number of foreign tourist arrivals during 2olg were
- 1o.93 miltion which decreased  to 2.74 million in zo2o. The number of Domestic Tourists visits in tndia during 2ol9 were 2g21ga2663 which decreased to 6iO2l6{57\_

Keeping in view the improvement  in covtD situation in country and subject to Govid related Guidelines  of Ministry of Health & Famiry welfare as applicabte to internationat traverers,  it was decided  that all foreign nationars intending to visit tndia for tourism purposes  wiil be allowed to enter into lndia on e-Tourist visafrourist  visa through Ghartered ftights (for group tourism onty) from l5th October 2021; and all  individual  foreign nationals intending  to visit rndia for tourism purposes  are being ailowed to enter into lndia on e-Tourist visa/rourist  visa w.e.f. {Sth November 2021. Futther Tourist visa/e-Tourist  visa of  foreign nationars intending  to visit lndia for tourism will have to be utitized  within l2o days from the date of  issue of  such visa/Etectronic Traver Authorization (ETA). Fresh rourist visa/e.Tourist  visa will remain valid for single entry for up to 3O days from the date of entry into lndia.  Relaxation  of visa and traver restrictions  for foreign tourists is not country-specific.

STATEMENT UNSTARRED rt{ REPLY TO PARTS (B) & (c) QUESTION NO 97  ANSWERED OF LOK SABHA oN  29.11.20.21 REGARDING  FISGAL AilD RELIEF MEASURES  ANNOUNCED  BY THE GOVERNMEI{T  TO SUPPORT THE INDIAN HOTEL INDUSTRY

- r' The Government announced Atmanirbhar Bharat  package  vide which Rs.3.OO  lakh crore collatera!  free automatic loan has
- n.  The Government  waived off  pF  contribution for three months for organisations  with less than { OO pax and 9O% of their employees earn below Rs.15OOO.
- been made available for MSMEs. The toan wilt have 4- year tenure and l2-month moratorium.
- r'. Under Atmanirbhar Bharat package, pF  contribution of both employer and employee has been reduced to 1(00/o each from existing 12o/o each for a[ estabrishments  covered by EpFo for three months.
- ,. Return filing deferred for three months  with no penar interest for companies up to Rs.S Crore, rest @  gyo  penal interest.
- r".  Deferment of TGS up to October 2O2O.
- ,r.  The Gentral government  also  gave relief  from  various regulatory compliances under lncome Tax Act, companies Act and GST Act for varying period in the wake of GOVID\_19 crisis to ensure business continuity  and survival.
- December 2O2O.
- v.r. The RBI extended moratorium  on  term  loans till 3ist
- viir. The Government announced the  Emergency Credit Line
- Guarantee  Scheme (EGLGS) 3.O on  31.3.2021 to  support eligible Micro, Small and Medium  Enterprises (MSMEs)  and business enterprises  in meeting  their operationar riabirities 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 EGLGS (EGLGS 1.O, ECLGS 2.0 & ECLGS 3.O) was extended up to 30.06.2021  or tilt guarantees  for an amount  of Rs. 3.OO lakh crore are issued.  Last date of disbursement under the scheme was extended to 3O.O9.2O21. The detaits of guarantees  issued under the scheme are given below:
- Ministry  of Finance has given concurrence  to retease Service Exports from lndia Scheme (SEIS) scrips on i6.O6.2O21. Earlier, several lndustry stakeholders  had flagged appeals  to the Government  to release SEIS Scrips tor 2O19-2O and DGFT had put a detailed proposal  for the altocation for SEIS for exports made during 2O19-2O. Taking all circumstances into account, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has given concurrence to the proposal of Department of Gommerce for continuation of SEIS for zDig-20 with a financial allocation  of Rs.2O61 crore subject to the condition that the amount will be provided  through Expenditure  Budget following the procedure  of providing  a New Minor Head.
- On 28th June 20.21, the Government announced a stimulus package  to boost diverse sectors of economy affected by GOVID-i9 pandemic and provide impetus for growth and employment measures. The package comprises  a total of {7 measures in three broad categories, which inctuded  rEconomic relief from Pandemic,  with special focus on heatth and reviving travel and tourism sectors, and  .tmpetus  for Growth and employmentt.
- Operational  Recommendations for safe resumption  of business with easing of Iockdown  restrictions  have been issued for
- various segments of the travel and hospitality industry and
- With a view to prepare for a post-COVID  19 revival, the Ministry has formulated and issued detailed operationat guidelines  for Covid safety and hygiene  for hotels, restaurants, B&Bs/Homestays and Tourism Service  providers  on O3.O6.2O2O to facilitate smooth resumption of business.
- circulated  amongst alt stakeholders.
- An  initiative called SAATH! (System for  Assessment,
- With an aim to  incentivize stakeholders  in  the Tourism
- ,(lll. Awareness & Training for Hospitality lndustry) has been developed for effective imprementation  of Guidetines/sops issued with reference  to  GOVID-i9  and beyond for safe operations  of Hotels, restaurants, B&Bs and other units.
- industry, the  Guidetines  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 stakehotders. Additional promotional  activities have been incorporated including  online promotions  and the extent of  financial assistance permissible  has been enhanced.
- expire has been extended up to 3l"t March 20122.
- Validity  of  approva!  or certification  of  hotets and other accommodation  units whose proiect approval/re-approval  and classification/re-crassification have expired/were  rikery to
- The Guidelines  of the Marketing Devetopment  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.
- Financial  support under the  sloan  Guarantee  scheme for Govid
- Affected Tourism Service Sector (LGSGATSS),.  The scheme will cover Regiona! Level Tourist Guides recognised by the Ministry  of Tourism and Tourist Guides recognised by the State Governments/  UT Administrations  and Travet and Tourism Stakeholders (TTS) recognized  by the Ministry of Tourism. TTS's will be eligible to get a Ioan upto Rs. {O.OO takh each while tourist guides can avail loan up to Rs {.OO lakh each, There will  be no processing  charges, waiver of foreclosure  /  prepayment  charges and no requirement  of
- additional  collaterat.  Scheme to  be administered  by the
- Ministry  of Tourism through NCGTC.
- Free Tourist Visa to 5 Lakh: As per the announcement,  once Visa issuance is restarted, the first 5.OO Iakh Tourists Visas will be issued free of charge. The benefit of free of charge visa will be available only once per tourist during the issuance of the farst 5 Iakh tourist visas (free of charge visas). The scheme will be applicable  till 3lst March 20,22 or till 5,OO,OOO  visas are issued,  whichever is eartier.
- On 12th November 2O2O, the Government announced the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar yojana-  to  incentivize job creation during GovrD-{g recovery. The Aatmanirbhar Bharat
- Vide notification dated 26th April 2|021,  sExhibition-cumConvention Centre, has been included in the Harmonized Master List of rnfrastructure  sub-sectors by insertion of a new item  in the category of (social  and  Commercial lnfrastructure",  with  a  footnote defining Exhibition-cum\_ Gonvention  Gentre.
- Rozgar Yoiana has been extended till 3{"t March 2|022.
- Recognising  the fact that revivar in the tourism  sector wifl be
- Further, the Ministry of Tourism has issued modified guidelines for Recognition  of rourism  service  providers  dared oa.12.2o2o which are effective from January 2021. As per the modified guidelines,  Category of Greenshoot  / Start-up- Agencies is being introduced for the first time. This is in keeping  with the policy  of the Govt. of India for encouraging Start\_Ups and will also further  the cause of  rAtmanirbhar  lndiar.
- largely spearfieaded  by  Domestic tourism, the Ministry initiated arranging  a series of webinars under the overa theme of Dekho Apna Desh. The objective is to generate awareness and at the same time sustain interest amongst stakeholders, students and the general pubtic.
- Transport Operators  by the Manistry of Tourism has been extended automatica  y  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.
- Recognition of  Travel Agents, Tour (tperators,  Tourist

| mengency Gredit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) Tourism and Hospitalityr Scheme wise data as on 3O.Og.2O2l E   | mengency Gredit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) Tourism and Hospitalityr Scheme wise data as on 3O.Og.2O2l E   | mengency Gredit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) Tourism and Hospitalityr Scheme wise data as on 3O.Og.2O2l E   | mengency Gredit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) Tourism and Hospitalityr Scheme wise data as on 3O.Og.2O2l E   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| lndustry Nature                                                                                              | Support Under                                                                                                | o. of Guarantees lssued                                                                                      | Arnount of Guarantees issued on account of loans sanctioned under the scheme (in Rs. crore)                  |
| and Travel Tourism                                                                                           | ECLGS 3.O                                                                                                    | 2,732                                                                                                        | 1,371.62                                                                                                     |
| Hospitality                                                                                                  | EGLGS 3.O                                                                                                    | 3,t60                                                                                                        | 5,43O.96                                                                                                     |
| Hotels, Restaurants, Tourism                                                                                 | ECLGS 2.O                                                                                                    | 21A                                                                                                          | 3,4O3.90                                                                                                     |
| Tourism, Hotels & Restaurants                                                                                | ECLGS l.O                                                                                                    | 96,219                                                                                                       | 3559.43                                                                                                      |
| Total                                                                                                        |                                                                                                              | 1,O2r329                                                                                                     | 13,765.91                                                                                                    |