Lok Sabha Question No. 175 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: Digitisation of Tourism Sector
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Prathap Simha, L.S. Tejasvi Surya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*175 ANSWERED ON 14.03.2022

## DIGITISATION OF TOURISM SECTOR

- *175.  SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA: SHRI L.S. TEJASVI SURYA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the measures taken by the Government to enable digitisation in the tourism sector;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  measures  to  leverage  the technologies of virtual reality for  virtual tours of popular Indian destinations;
- (c) whether the Government expects normalcy in the tourism sector anytime  soon  and  if  so,  the  timeline  for  allowing  international travellers and restoration of travel visa; and
- (d) whether the Government has taken measures to increase inbound travel in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

MINISTER OF TOURISM

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

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STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *175 ANSWERED ON 14.03.2022 REGARDING DIGITISATION OF TOURISM SECTOR

- (a) & (b): The following measures have been taken by the government to enable digitisation in the tourism sector:
- (i) Multilingual Incredible India  Website  &  Mobile  App  to provide information about India as a tourist destination. The website  also  has  destinations  with  360  Degree  Virtual Tours.
- (ii) Classification  of  Accommodation Units and Recognition of Travel Trade Service Providers have been digitised by the Ministry.
- (iii) Incredible India Tourist Facilitator (IITF) Programme for Online learning.
- Certification
- (iv) E-Marketplace for Incredible India Tourist Facilitators/
- Incredible India Tourist Guides.
- (v) National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry (NIDHI)  as  a  common  repository  of  data  from  Hospitality Industry and other Tourism Service Providers.
- (vi) Further,  Ministry  of  Tourism  is  working  on  setting  up  of National Digital Tourism Mission. This mission envisages to achieve  the  objective  of  harnessing  the  full  potential  of digitisation  in  tourism  sector  by  facilitating  exchange  of information and services in tourism sector spreading across national  and  state  tourism  organizations,  tourism  service providers, tourism destinations, products, experiences and tourists.
- (c): The  e-Tourist  Visa/Tourist  Visa  has  been fully  restored  for  all individual foreign nationals intending to visit India for tourism purposes w.e.f. 15th November, 2021.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt. of India has announced to resume scheduled commercial international passenger services to/from India from March 27, 2022, i.e. start of the summer schedule 2022.

(d): The  following  measures  have  been  taken  to  increase  inbound travel in the country:

- (i) Government of India has announced free visa fee to the first 500,000 international tourists to increase inbound travel.
- (ii) Ministry  of  Tourism,  through  its  8  India  Tourism  Offices Overseas promotes India as a preferred tourism destination to increase inbound travel.
- (iii) Further, Ministry of External Affairs has designated Tourism Officers in the Indian Missions of top 20 source markets.
- (iv) Ministry  of  Tourism  is  preparing  country  specific  plans  in partnership  with  Indian  Missions  for  promotion  of  inbound travel.
- (v) Ministry of Tourism releases global online media campaigns in  important  and  potential  markets  overseas,  under  the 'Incredible India' brand-line, to promote inbound travel.
- (vi) Digital promotions are also regularly undertaken through the Social Media platforms.
- (vii) Ministry of Tourism has launched a 24×7 toll free infoline in 12 languages to assist inbound travellers.

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