The unprecedented COVID-19 induced crisis has led to a shutdown of the Travel & Tourism industry and has placed significant pressures on the entire economy. CII estimates suggest that the entire value chain linked to T&T is likely to lose around 5 lakh crore or US$65.57 billion, with job losses reaching 2 crores in the sector The coronavirus puts a furrow on the Indian tourism industry as domestic and international travel plans are shrouded with a veil of uncertainty. In this growing time of uncertainty, it is imperative that we model a new-normal for the tourism industry. A model needs to be fabricated that inculcates multiple dimensions of the proposed new-normal, with the revival of the sector at the forefront of the efforts of industry and government.
CII Annual Tourism Summit, held between the 16-17 December, provides the necessary platform for all the stakeholders in the industry to converge, and help create a blueprint for the post COVID-19 world. We have curated sessions that will refurbish certain locations while creating a best practises model that can be followed to help India stimulate its domestic tourism while envisioning a future that will help drastically increase our international tourist footfall and put India back on the map.
Addressing the inaugural session of the CII Annual Tourism Summit, Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister, Government of Goa highlighted that Goa has launched a new state tourism policy which will help the government push the systematic development of the sector. This policy has been framed to offer the unique Goan experience to the visitors by presenting a mix of holistic, natural and cultural locations and attractions. This policy will be the backbone for crucial decision of planning, development and marketing. Goa is also working on creating a robust system where small hospitality players can be brough under a single portal to help boost ease of doing business.
Aaditya Thackeray, Minister of Tourism, Environment & Climate Change & Protocol, Government of Maharashtra speaking on Maharashtra’s tourism potential highlighted that during this COVID period, we have given the hospitality sector the status of being an industry, which would be applicable from the 1st of April. We have also brought EODB facilitation, as we started with 70 application forms, 70 odd licenses and 15 NOCs. Now we have brought down application forms from 70 to 8, licenses from 70 to 10 and 15 NOCs to 9 self-certification which is in effect from now.
The worst period is over, COVID cases are coming down and there is a ray of hope that tourism should start stated Meenakshi Sharma, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Ministry of Tourism has already started conversations with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs on how to open up international tourism. We are in the process of having an insurance product that will provide more confidence to the international travellers. To help the industry, we revised our schemes on the marketing development assistance and are willing to take up part of the tab of promotion.
Darpan Jain, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry expressed that 1000 crores worth of programs have been earmarked and approve for tourism and medical value travel under the champion services sector scheme. We need to focus on wellness travel as India has strengths in Ayurveda and Yoga and need to develop world class facilities. To improve international tourist footfall, can we work on a national strategy that is bottom up and let us tie up on issues related to promotion, facilitation, infrastructure and skilling.
All of us as society need to come together to frame policies for the short term, mid-term and long-term policies in a manner which helps revive and then restore the travel and tourism industry stated Ms Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. There has been a lot of demand for the need to harmonize, the decision to administer and decide what is the harmonization at the pan-India level has to be at the state government level.
We took COVID as a great opportunity and created a roadmap for the next 6 months on what interventions can be undertaken stated Valsa Nair, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture, Civil Aviation & Excise, Government of Maharashtra. We have introduced an agro-tourism policy which encourages farm-stays, incentivizes farmers to get into farm-stays, also for horticulture, fisheries, agriculture and wine. We have also worked on a beach-shack policy, caravan tourism and adventure tourism policy during this period.
Vikram Kapur, Addl. Chief Secretary, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Dept, Government of Tamil Nadu expressed that Tamil Nadu tourism promotional project has been launched, where we have identified 295 new destinations and grouped them into about half a dozen circuits. In addition to traditional circuits, we are developing these new areas and opening them up for tourists. We need to focus on marketing as we have some of the best natural resources in the world with a wealth of heritage. The traditional way of marketing needs to give way to new tools of marketing.
COVID has already caused 142.6 million job losses in the entire travel and tourism industry with an estimated GDP loss of USD 3,815 billion stated Ms. Gloria Guevara, President and CEO World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). If no improvement occurs, this will increase to 174.4 million job losses with USD 4,711 billion GDP loss. The good news out of this crisis is that they have finally acknowledged the importance of the sector. The global tourism industry contributes 1 in 10 jobs and contribute 330 million jobs across the world. This is a sector with multiple industries and provides greater social impact and benefit. Our principles of recovery include international and public private sector coordinated approach to effectively re-establish operations, enhance existing seamless traveller journey experience, adoption of global health, hygiene and safety protocol and common standards, continued government support
GB Srithar, Regional Director, India, Middle East and South Asia, Singapore Tourism Board expressed that Singapore had a three phased approach for safe Singapore transitions. Singapore has taken a calibrated approach, where we test strategies, adjust and move forward.
Puneet Chhatwal, Chairman, CII National Committee on Tourism and Hospitality and MD&CEO IHCL expressed that five broad areas need to be addressed to build a stronger more sustainable and resilient tourism economy; reopening the tourism economy, restoring traveller confidence, relooking at infrastructure and hygiene, rebuilding destinations and rethinking the travel and tourism sector in the long run.
Deep Kalra, Co-Chairman, CII National Committee on Tourism and Hospitality & Founder & Executive Chairman, MakeMyTrip stated that reopening of the tourism economy will not happen without restoring traveller confidence. While there exists demand today, more has to be done to improve confidence. One of the biggest silver lining seen is how closely the industry has come together and how well public and private partnership has responded to this crisis.
