Question : Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Indian Tourism Industry

(a) whether the tourism sector has been badly affected due to Covid-19 pandemic and if so, the details thereof by indicating the number of tourists visited the country during September to December, 2020 month-wise and the number of tourists visited the country during the same period in 2019;
(b) whether the Government has assessed the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Indian tourism industry and if so, the details thereof along with the information on job losses since February, 2020;
(c) whether the Government proposes to announce economic package for the revival of tourism industry and if so, the details thereof;
(d) the steps taken by the Government to help the tourism sector to prepare for new opportunities and adapt to the new realities in the post-pandemic world along with the measures taken to revive the domestic tourism; and
(e) whether the Government plans to set up a vaccine certification programme for foreign tourists to help revive International tourism in view of the vaccine roll out in progress in India as well as major countries around the world along with the measures being taken to ensure COVID remains contained in tourist destinations?

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

(a): Yes sir. The details indicating the no. of tourists visited the country during April 2020 to December 2020 vis-à-vis no. of tourists who visited the country during the same period in 2019 is at Annexure-I.

(b): The closure of the travel and tourism industry has had a cascading effect on the livelihood of people dependant on tourism. The Ministry has engaged NCAER to conduct a study on "India and Coronavirus Pandemic: Economic losses for Households Engaged in Tourism and Policies for Recovery". Since the situation is still evolving, the final impact can only be ascertained in due course.

(c) & (d): The economic package announced by the Govt. of India under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat, steps taken to help the tourism sector to adapt to the new realities in the post pandemic world and measures taken to revive domestic tourism is at Annexure-II.

(e): The Government of India’s COVID-19 vaccination programme will provide priority to healthcare and frontline workers followed by those above 50 years of age and then under-50 population groups. No plan for setting up a vaccine certification programme for foreign tourists has been announced yet.

*******