Lok Sabha Question No. 384 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Rebranding of Indian States as Tourist Destinations
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Francisco Cosme Sardinha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.384

## ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## REBRANDING OF INDIAN STATES AS TOURIST DESTINATIONS

## 384.  SHRI COSME FRANCISCO CAITANO SARDINHA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the trend of the arrivals of foreign tourists in the State of Goa after the COVID-19 Pandemic;
- (b) whether the number has reached pre-Pandemic levels;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  planned  measures  to  re-brand  the Indian  States  as  tourist  destinations  in  the  post-Pandemic  setting; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM                                   (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a)  & (b): The details of Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) in the State of Goa during 2019-2022 is given below:
- (c): As  per  the  inputs  received,  Tourism  department  of  Government  of Goa has launched and notified the below mentioned schemes to recover from Covid-19 pandemic:
- (i) 'Tourist Trade Support (Working Capital Interest Subvention) Scheme 2021':  to  support  the  MSME's  in  tourism  industry  which  has  been adversely affected due to pandemic by subsidizing the working capital
- loans for 6-month period. Under the said scheme, there is a provision of reimbursement of interest up to maximum of 5% on working capital loans amounting to a maximum of INR 25 Lakhs for 6 months in one single claim wherein the maximum burden on Government per eligible entity  shall  be  Rs.62,500/-  and  maximum  number  of  beneficiaries covered  under  the  scheme  are  800.  All  registered  B,  C,  D  category hotels/accommodation  and  Travel  &  Tour  Operators  are  eligible  for benefit of the said scheme.
- (ii) 'International  Charter  Support  (Waiver  of  Landing  Fees)  Scheme 2021': to provide relaxation in landing charges  of International Charters  to  Goa  in  order  to  attract  higher  number  of  charters  by reducing  the  burden  on  cost  of  operation  of  international  chartered flights.  Under  the  said  scheme,  reimbursement  to  charters  up  to maximum  of  INR  1  lakh  per  international  charter  flight  on  landing charges excluding  GST  at  Dabolim  Airport,  Goa  during  the  period  of the  Scheme.  The  said  scheme  was  in  force  from  October  2021  to March 2022.
- (iii)  Department is undertaking all possible statutory, remedial and preventive measures to ensure increase in tourist traffic in the State. As a part of promotional campaign, the State Department of Tourism along with the travel trade participates at important international and domestic travel Marts/Exhibitions.  In addition, Road Shows are also organized  in  international  and  domestic  markets.    The  Department prints, distributes brochures in foreign as well as English language. In order to create awareness about Tourism in the State, this Department releases advertisements in various National and International magazines, newspapers, etc.  Besides, advertisement is also released in national and international TV channels in English and local foreign languages.

| Year           |   FTVs (in Lakh) | Growth over previous year (%)   |
|----------------|------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2018           |             9.34 | -                               |
| 2019           |             9.37 | 0.32                            |
| 2020           |             3.03 | -67.66                          |
| 2021           |             0.22 | -92.74                          |
| 2022           |             1.75 | 695.45                          |
| 2023(Jan-Nov)* |             4.03 | 130.29                          |

Source: State Tourism Department

*Provisional

Goa Tourism shall continue its efforts of promotion of Goa in International markets by participating in various prominent international Travel Marts/exhibitions such as WTM, ITB, BTL, ATM, MITT, OTDYKH etc. & shall organised series of international roadshows to boost the inflow of foreign tourists in the State.

- (d) & (e): The Ministry of Tourism promotes the tourist destinations and tourism  products  of  the  country  in  a  holistic  manner.  It  endeavors  to position India as a preferred tourism destination in the tourism generating markets,  under  the  Incredible  India  brand,  to  promote  various  tourism products  and  destinations  in  the  global  tourism  market  through  an integrated marketing and promotional strategy and a synergized campaign in  association  with  the  Travel  Trade,  State  Governments  and  Indian Missions overseas.

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