Lok Sabha Question No. 1106 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-29
Subject: Tourism and Hospitality Sector
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1106 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2024

## TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR

## 1106 DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the union Government has not allocated adequate funds to  Tamil  Nadu  State  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  Tamil  Nadu  being one  of the top leading States attracting large  number  of domestic and international tourists in the country and if so the details thereof;
- (b) the quantum of financial loss suffered by the Tourism, Travel and Hospitality sectors in the country since 2019;
- (c) the proactive steps taken by the Government in this regard and to  rejuvenate  Tourism  and  Hospitality  sectors  in  the  country especially in Tamil Nadu; and
- (d) the  details  of  funds  allocated  to  various  tourism  development and  infrastructure  projects  in  Tamil  Nadu  during  the  last  10 years?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF TOURISM     (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (d): No, the details of projects sanctioned in the State of Tamil Nadu  under  the  'Swadesh  Darshan',  'National  Mission  on  Pilgrimage Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD)' and 'Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development' Schemes is given at Annexure-I.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  recently  revamped  the  Swadesh Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD 2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations, following a  destination  &  tourism  centric  approach.  Under  this  scheme  the Ministry  has  sanctioned  a  project  'Immersive  experience  at  Shore Temple' for Rs.30.02 Crore in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu.

Financial  assistance  has  also  been  provided  to  the  State  of Tamil  Nadu  for  organizing  fairs/festivals  &  tourism  related  events under  Domestic  Promotion  &  Publicity  including  Hospitality  (DPPH) Scheme.    Details  of  funds  sanctioned  in  the  last  five  years  for  the State of Tamil Nadu are at Annexure-II.

Ministry  of  Tourism  has  conducted  a  study  on  "India  and  the Coronavirus Pandemic: Economic Losses for Households Engaged in Tourism  and  Policies  for  Recovery  -  Phase  II".  In  this  regard,  the Impact on Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) is as follows:

-  While the overall economy showed a decline of 11.8 per cent, in nominal terms, in the first quarter of 2020-21 over the corresponding  quarter  in  2018-19  (a  full  normal  pre-pandemic year), the tourism economy or TDGVA saw a much greater fall of 49.6  per  cent  in  the  same  quarter  owing  to  the  supply  side shock.
-  However, considering the demand  side impact too, which presents  the  most  likely  loss  in  TDGVA,  it  is  estimated  that TDGVA plummeted by as much as 93.0 per cent in Q1 of 2020-21 over its level in the same quarter of FY 2018-19. This represents the impact of the first wave.
-  The  second  wave  had  almost  the  similar  impact  on  tourism economy when TDGVA fell by 87.2 percent in Q1 of FY 2021-22. The  third  wave  had  a  lesser  impact  but  the  tourism  economy posted a negative growth throughout 2020-21 and 2021-22 over the pre-pandemic level in 2018-19.

Ministry of Tourism  took the following proactive steps to rejuvenate  Tourism  and  Hospitality  sectors  in  the  country  including Tamil Nadu:

- i. To  recover  from  the  hardship  which  arose  due  to  the  covid-19 pandemic,  Ministry  of  Tourism  launched  the  "Loan  Guarantee Scheme for Covid Affected Tourism Service Sector (LGSCATSS)", under which, each Tour Operators/Travel Agents/Tourist Transport  Operators  approved/recognized  by  the  Ministry  of Tourism were eligible to take loan upto Rs.10.00 lakh and each Regional Tourist Guide/Incredible India Tourist Guide approved/recognized  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  and  Tourist Guides approved/recognized by the State Govt./UT
2. Administration  were  eligible  to  take  loan  upto  Rs.1.00  lakh. Validity  of  the  said  scheme  was  till  31.03.2023.  Period  of repayment of loan  amount  is  be  upto  5  years  from  the  date  of first  disbursement.  As  on  31.03.2024,    476  guarantees  have been  issued  amounting  to  Rs.6.82  crore  approx.,  out  of  which loans  Rs.6.19  crore  stands  disbursed.  As  on  31.03.2024,    476 guarantees have been issued amounting to Rs.6.82 crore approx., out of which loans Rs.6.19 crore stands disbursed.
- ii. The Ministry 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  revival  and  smooth  resumption  of  business  postCoVID.
- iii. An initiative called SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness & Training for Hospitality Industry) was 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.
- iv. Owing to the situation which arose out of COVID- 19 pandemic, Ministry  of  Tourism  in  consultation  with  Ministry  of  Health  & Family Welfare issued guidelines/directions to the Tourism Stakeholders, Hotels and Restaurants to facilitate smooth resumption of business.
- v. Dekho  Apna  Desh  initiative  launched  with  the  objective  to encourage citizens to travel within the country.
- vi. Thematic tourism like wellness tourism, culinary tourism, rural, eco-tourism etc. amongst other tourism sub-products are promoted  so  as  to  expand  the  scope  of  tourism  into  other sectors as well.
- vii. Ministry  of  External  Affairs  has  designated  Tourism  Officers  in 20  Indian  Missions  overseas  for  promoting  India  as  a  tourism destination in these important markets.

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## ANNEXURE-I

STATEMENT  IN REPLY TO PARTS  (a) TO (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1106 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2024 REGARDING TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR RAISED BY DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN.

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

(Rs. in Crore)

|   Sl. No. | Circuit/ Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                            |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released |
|-----------|--------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Coastal Circuit 2016-17  | Development of (Chennai- Mamamallapuram - Rameshwaram - Manpadu - Kanyakumari) |               73.13 |             71.03 |

## PRASHAD Scheme

(Rs. in Crore)

|   Sl. No. | Project Name               | Sanction Year   |   Approved Cost |   Amount Released |
|-----------|----------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Development of Kanchipuram | 2016-17         |           13.99 |             13.99 |
|         2 | Development of Velankanni  | 2016-17         |            4.86 |              4.86 |

## Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development Scheme

(Rs. in Crore)

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Project                                                                   | Central Agency       | Year of Sanction   |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|--------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Cruise Passenger Facilities Centre in the existing Passenger Terminal at Chennai Port | Chennai Port Trust   | 2012-13            |               17.25 |             17.25 |
|         2 | Joint Development of Rameshwaram Railway Station                                      | Ministry of Railways | 2017-18            |                4.7  |              3.76 |
|         3 | Joint Development of Madurai Railway Station                                          | Ministry of Railways | 2018-19            |                4.48 |              3.56 |

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ANNEXURE-II

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1106 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2024 REGARDING TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR RAISED BY DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN.

Financial  Assistance  to  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  for  organising Fairs & Festivals and Tourism Related Events in last five years:

(Rs. in lakh)

|   Sl. No. | Year    | Name of Fairs & Festival             |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released |
|-----------|---------|--------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | 2019-20 | Indian Dance Festival                |                  25 |                25 |
|         2 | 2019-20 | Kumari Festival                      |                  10 |                10 |
|         3 | 2019-20 | Tourism Cultural Festival            |                  15 |                15 |
|         4 | 2021-22 | India Dance Festival at Mamallapuram |                  25 |                25 |
|         5 | 2022-23 | India Dance Festival at Mamallapuram |                  25 |                25 |

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