Travel and tourism industry sees green shoots after Covid-19 shock

After being the worst-hit sector for nearly two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the travel and tourism industry is witnessing a gradual recovery. Several tour operators and travel agencies told Moneycontrol that a strong pent-up demand, reopening of international borders and easing of domestic restrictions have contributed to the recovery. "The recovery is definitely underway; I have taken several tours abroad this year. The industry hit rock-bottom last year so compared to that, people are willing to travel," said Shanti Kohli, managing director of Amber Tours, a Delhi-based travel agency. Kohli said she has been receiving at least 2 enquiries for international travel on a daily basis, compared to 2-3 during the pre-pandemic period. Radhika Khanijo, CEO, MD and travel designer at Welgrow Travels, said that domestic travel has picked up in a big way and has started recovering much earlier than international travel. "Although there has not been a 100 percent recovery yet, figures are indicating that a complete revival can happen soon by the end of first quarter of the next year or the second quarter, provided that a third wave does not occur," said Khanijo. Welgrow was working in the space of international travel but forayed into domestic tourism during the pandemic as international tourism was completely shut owing to travel restrictions, Khanijo added. Both Kohli and Khanijo observed that there has been a lot of enthusiasm for travel lately and the festive season between Dussehra to Diwali was particularly upbeat.