Question : Relief to Hotel Industry and Tourism Sector

(a) whether the Government is taking any steps to revive the hotel and restaurant industry which have been one of the worst hit because of the COVID-19 pandemic and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(b) whether the Government proposes to formulate any scheme or provide relief for the hotel, restaurants and tourism based sectors due to COVID-19 pandemic; and
(c) whether the Government will be considering provision of subsidies in the form of bearing a percentage of diner bills, an example of which can be obtained from the United Kingdom’s recent decision to bear 50 per cent of diner bills so as to encourage people to eat out, and if not whether the government has any similar progressive steps to help the F&B industry and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. The Ministry of Tourism has taken the following steps to revive the tourism industry hit by the COVID-19 pandemic:

i. The Ministry has formulated and issued operational recommendations for hotels, restaurants, B&Bs/Homestays and farm stays and other Tourism Service providers to facilitate smooth resumption of business.
ii. 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.
iii. The Ministry has been in regular touch with the industry stakeholders through several rounds of discussions and brainstorming sessions and examined their suggestions carefully. All such proposals have been taken up with the concerned Ministries and Departments of Government of India. Similarly, the issues pertaining to the relief measures expected from the States/UTs have been pursued with them at the highest level.
iv. The Ministry of Tourism has constituted a Task Force under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister for Tourism to meet the challenge posed by the outbreak of COVID-19 and make appropriate recommendations for the revival of the tourism sector in the country. The Task Force includes State Tourism Ministers, Joint Secretary level officers of the concerned Central Ministries and representatives from associations like FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, WTCII as well as heads of tourism and hospitality associations.

(C): No, Sir. The Ministry has not considered subsidies in the form of bearing a percentage of diner bills. It has focused on measures to rebuild the trust of the domestic & international travellers in terms of India being the safe destination through safety measures and protocols.
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