FAITH: Tourism first needs to SURVIVE, then needs to REVIVE and then only can it THRIVE.

Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH) has appealed to the Chief Ministers of all 28 States for state-specific support package.

FAITH has shared with each state their share of domestic and foreign tourists and how most of those total tourist footfalls will now not be available for 2020-21.

The tourism business has almost completely come to a standstill in FY 2020-21. Almost all of India’s top-performing foreign source markets for tourism (USA, Canada, UK, Germany, China, Japan, Singapore, Russia, Italy, Spain), are severely impacted and are not likely to travel before FY 2021 – 22.

As high as 1.8 billion+ domestic tourism footfalls, 10.5 million + foreign tourists and 6 million + NRI tourist footfalls have been hit.  Each foreign tourist has a multiplier effect of 2.8 times across Indian states, hence 10.5 million foreign tourists leading to 28 million +foreign tourists footfalls across states have been lost. 

The interstate domestic season which happens almost 60%+ in the April – July period has collapsed for the year FY 2020 – 21 and will be negligent for the rest of year with stringent travel restrictions and reduced connectivity across Indian states. As a result, 28 Indian States are set to lose tourism as an Industry. 
FAITH has been repeatedly saying to all key Government bodies that the Tourism industry of India first needs to  SURVIVE, then needs to  REVIVE  and then only can it  THRIVE.

FAITH has appealed to the Chief Ministers of each state for coming up with a state-specific package.

• A complete waiver of all fixed electricity and other utility charges for FY 2020-21 without any penalties.
• A complete waiver of all excise duties for FY 2020-21 without any penalties.
• A renewal of all licenses, permits, permissions which were expiring in FY 2020-21 without any financial charges or penalties.
• A refund of the FY 2019-20 of SGST collected from all travel agents, tourist transporters, hotels, tour operators, restaurants and any other tourism, travel & hospitality enterprises in the state which will help manage their working capital crisis. This can be paid back in subsequent years interest-free and without any penalties.
• A complete waiver of any other taxes, fees, cesses or levies such as the property taxes or interstate tourist transport taxes levied at the level of the state, municipal, district or panchayat on the tourism, travel & hospitality industry.

Additionally, FAITH has also requested the Chief Ministers for their support with the following:

• Request to the Finance Minister, of Govt of India for a complete waiver of income taxes, GST, PF & ESI and any other statutory taxes, fees, cesses or levies on the tourism, travel & hospitality industry for FY 2020-21
• Request to Governor RBI for increasing the moratorium period on loans from three months to the full financial year of 2020-21 without any penal or accumulated interest.
• Request to Finance Minister, Govt of India & Governor RBI for setting up a Tourism COVID 19 fund for a 10-year interest-free loan for enabling tourism, travel & hospitality industry to meet salary costs. This could be for a minimum fund size of Rs. 50,000 crores which are almost equal to the gross banking credit to Indian tourism, travel & hospitality industry. This will help retain jobs, ensure that tourism business doesn’t go bankrupt and also will protect the principal amount of loan and overall banking exposure.

The crisis emanating from COVID 19 is the worst ever to hit the tourism industry. It is bigger than the combined financial impact of 9/11 and the economic downturn of 2009. It is said to be even bigger than the impact of World War II and the Great Depression.

FAITH has thus appealed for urgent support to prevent mass bankruptcies and unemployment in tourism, travel & hospitality industry in each state.