Lok Sabha Question No. 41 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-18
Subject: Bharat Gaurav Project
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Sisir Kumar Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 41 ANSWERED ON 18.07.2022

## BHARAT GAURAV PROJECT

41. SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether the Government proposes to redevelop post-covid tourism sector of the country;
- (b)    the proposal of the Government to develop tourism with the help of unemployed  persons  of  the  country  under  Bharat  Gaurav  project therefor; and
- (c)    the details of projects which are running under the private capacity and employment has generated through Bharat Gaurav Project and post-covid rehabilitation direct support to hotels and tourism industries in this regard?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a): The details of the various fiscal relief measures announced by the Government,  which  are  expected  to  benefit  in  revival  of  the  Indian tourism industry, is enclosed at ANNEXURE.

(b)&(c): Ministry  of  Railways  has  informed  that  Indian  Railways  have introduced  theme-based  Tourist  Circuit  trains  under  the  Bharat  Gaurav Trains (BGT) Policy which was formulated with the purpose to showcase India's  rich  cultural  heritage  and  magnificent  historical  places  to  the people of India and the world through professionals of the tourism sector and other potential service providers.

Though, the policy does not entail any direct employment generation  on  the  part  of  railway,  it  is  expected  that  this  will  help  in creation  of  huge  number  of  direct  and    indirect  employment  of  people engaged in the field of tourism such as transport, recreation, hotels, food, fuel and other service sectors(handicrafts, textiles, etc) .

The details of the Bharat Gaurav Train policy can be referred   on https://bharatgauravtrains.indianrailways.gov.in.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.41  ANSWERED  ON  18.07.2022  REGARDING  BHARAT GAURAV PROJECT

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 has been made available for MSMEs. The loan will have 4 year tenure and 12 month moratorium.
- ii. 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
- 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 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 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.
- vi. 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'.
- vii. 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.
- viii. 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-19 and beyond for safe operations of Hotels, Restaurants, B&Bs and other units.
- ix. 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.
- x. 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.
- xi. 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.

xii. Owing 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. xiii. 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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