Lok Sabha Question No. 92 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-04
Subject: Schemes to Boost Cultural Activities in Hastinapur
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Malook Nagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†92

## ANSWERED ON 04.12.2023

## SCHEMES TO BOOST CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN HASTINAPUR

†92.SHRI MALOOK NAGAR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether tourism plays a major role in strengthening the country's  economy,  which  had  come  to  a  standstill  in  almost every country in the world;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  effective  strategy  to compensate the losses suffered by the tourism sector;
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  plan  to  boost  tourism activities in Hastinapur?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM                        (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a):  Yes,  Sir.  Tourism  plays  a  very  important  role  in  strengthening the  country's  economy.  The  pandemic  did  impact  the  industry across the world. The Total Tourism GDP (TGDP) as a percentage of Total GDP declined in the year 2020-21 to 1.50 from 5.18 in the year 2019-2020. However, in the post-pandemic year 2021-22 the share of TGDP in the total GDP increases to 1.77.

(Source:  National  council  of  Applied  Economic  Research  (NCAER) Study on 'India and the Coronavirus Pandemic: Economic Losses for Households Engaged in Tourism and Policies for Recovery').

- (b) & (c): The details of various fiscal and non-fiscal relief measures announced  by  the  Government  of  India,  which  are  expected  to assist the tourism industry are given in the Annexure.

(d):  As  per  the  inputs  received  from  the  Government  of  Uttar

Pradesh,  12  major  tourist  circuits  has  been  identified  including Mahabharata Circuit by the state. Mahabharata Circuit consists of Hastinapur,  Kampilya,  Ahichatra,  Barnava,  Mathura,  Kaushambi, Gonda,  Lakshagra,  Handia  (Prayagraj).  Keechakvadh  Sthal  Rath (Hamirpur)  and  Vidur  Kuti  (Bijnor)  etc.  Also,  Government  of  Uttar Pradesh  has  implemented  various  tourism  development  projects under  various  schemes  to  facilitate  tourists  at  Hastinapur.  These project  component  aims  to  improve  the  public  realm,  as  well  as create additional infrastructure to enhance their future potential to grow into an important cultural hub.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (b)  &  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†92 ANSWERED ON 04.12.2023 REGARDING SCHEMES TO BOOST CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN

HASTINAPUR BY SHRI MALOOK NAGAR.

The  following  are  the  various  relief  measures  announced  by  the Government  for  redeveloping  tourism  sector  of  the  country  postCOVID:

- The Government announced Atmanirbhar Bharat Package vide which  Rs.3.00  lakh  crore  collateral  free  automatic  loan  was Medium  Enterprises (MSMEs).  The  loan  will  have  4-year  tenure  and  12-month
- i. made  available for Micro, Small and moratorium.
- ii. Under Atmanirbhar Bharat package, Provident Fund contribution  of  both  employer  and  employee  was  reduced  to 10%  each  from  existing  12%  each  for  all  establishments covered by Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (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 earn below Rs.15000.
- v. Deferment of Tax Collected at Source (TCS) up to October 2020.
- vi. The Central government also gave relief from various regulatory compliances under Income Tax Act, companies Act and Goods and  Service  Tax  (GST)  Act  for  varying  period  in  the  wake  of COVID-19 crisis to ensure business continuity and survival.
- vii. Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) was launched in May, 2020 as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan to support eligible Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and business enterprises in meeting their operational liabilities  and  restarting  their  businesses.  Under  the  scheme, 100% credit  guarantee  is  extended  to  the  lending  institutions for  loans  extended  by  them  under  the  scheme  to  eligible borrowers.  The  admissible  guarantee  limit  under  the  scheme has been increased from Rs.4.5 lakh crore to Rs.5 lakh crore, with the additional guarantee cover of Rs.50,000 crore
- earmarked exclusively for the Hospitality and enterprises including Civil Aviation sector.
- related
- viii. 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'.
- ix. 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 up to Rs.10.00 lakh each may be availed by Ministry of Tourism approved Tour operator/Travel Agents/Tourist Transport Operators and up to Rs.1.00 lakh each may be availed by RLGs/IITGs approved by Ministry of Tourism and Tourist Guides approved by State Government/UT Administration.
- x. The purpose of the LGSCATSS of the Ministry of Tourism was to provide  guarantee  coverage  for  the  loans  provided  by  the Scheduled Commercial Banks to the above mentioned beneficiaries,  to  discharge  their  liabilities  and  restart  their business affected due to Covid-19 pandemic. This Scheme has been  implemented  through  National  Credit  Guarantee  Trustee Company Ltd (NCGTC).
- 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-19 and beyond for safe operations of Hotels, restaurants, B&Bs and other units.
- xiii. 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
- xiv.
- xv.
- xvi. nationals of 167 countries as on date.
- 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. 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. Owing to the situation which arose out of COVID- 19 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. Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  restored  e-Tourist  Visa  for  foreign
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