The COVID19 crisis hit the Tourism economy hard with unprecedented effects on jobs and business.
Tourism was one of the first sectors to be deeply impacted by the pandemic as measures introduced to contain the Virus led to a near-complete cessation of tourism activities worldwide. The sector also risks being among the last to recover with the ongoing travel restrictions and the global recession.
India is considerably dependent on tourism as a source of revenue, but due to COVID, all travels have come to a halt. Especially the international tourists have no access to enter the country.
Tourism destinations recorded the lowest international arrival in 2020-21 in comparison to 2019. India witnessed a dip of 75.5% in foreign tourist arrival last year due to tourist restrictions to control the COVID19 pandemic. Only 2.68 million or 26.8 lakh foreign tourists came to India last year as against 10.93 million in 2019, 10.56 million in 2018, 10.04 million in 2017, informed Tourism Minister Shri Prahlad Singh Patel said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
The ministry does not have an assessment of the loss of revenue in 2020.
For Example, Tajmahal, one of the world’s seven wonders, reopened after six months in September 2020 amid COVID19 with a capped number of tourists & social distancing norms. The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) reports that the closing of the Taj Mahal for six months caused a loss of Rs. 35 crore revenue. In November 2020, the Taj Mahal touched the cap of 5000 for the first time since its reopening after the COVID19 lockdown.
The pandemic has not only affected the revenue but also a number of jobs that are directly and indirectly connected with the Tourism industry like Hotels, Restaurants, Shopkeepers, Guides, etc.
With the arrival of the second wave of COVID19 in 2021, the monuments closed their doors for more than two months. Even the much-debated KUMBH MELA 2021 shortened to 30 days due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The monuments are expected to remain closed till June 15, and also even after reopening, the tourists won’t be permitted without a negative RT PCR test.
Shedding some more light on the topic, Tourism Expert Atul Pandey claims that domestic tourism can be the key to success in tourism revival. Domestic tourism started slowly in 2020 and is helping to mitigate the impact on jobs and business at some destinations, but it is again hit by COVID19 second wave. However, the real recovery will only be possible when international tourists return. The survival of the tourism industry is at risk without Government support.
The government of India, Minister of Tourism, should cushion the blow to tourism, minimize job losses and take a few steps for the revival of tourism post the COVID era, Pandey jots down.
Some of the key priorities of the Government should be:
- Promotion of Domestic Tourism and supporting the safe return of international tourists.
- Facilitating maximum vaccination drives to attract tourists.
- Providing clear information to travelers and businesses regarding travel.
- Strengthening cooperation between Central & State Govt. (A formal tourism SOP )
- Building friendly relationships with foreign nations and providing online service in travel formalities.
- Boosting tourism site promotion
- Re-focus on #DekhoApnaDesh campaign of MOT
Even the Minister of Tourism & Culture, Prahlad Singh Patel deemed domestic tourism as the key to revival.
The crisis is an opportunity to rethink tourism for the future. Tourism is at a crossroads and the measures we put in place today will shape the tourism for tomorrow.