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Tourism sector in Himachal seeks bailout package from Centre

Senior Congress leader Sudhir Sharma on Thursday demanded the Centre and state government should provide a bailout package to the tourism industry which has been adversely hit due to Covid-19 pandemic. In a statement issued here, Sharma said that the tourism sector is a key contributor to the economy of the state. “Even as finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman ended her epic saga of relief and reform packages to revive the economy, nothing was announced for tourism and hospitality industry,” he said. The former urban development minister said that as per estimates, the tourism industry employs 38 million people in the country and in Himachal Pradesh more than 7 lakh people are directly or indirectly dependent on the industry for livelihood. The tourism sector contributes more than 6.6% to the state GDP, he said adding that travel restrictions after the Covid-19 lockdown have badly hit the industry in the state. The state government banned the entry of tourists in mid-March which left the industry paralysed. “There are 3,350 hotels, 1,656 homestays and 2,912 travel agencies in the state which are struggling to stay afloat,” said Sharma adding that not only hoteliers but guides, adventurer sports operators and taxi drivers too have been affected adversely. He said that the industry has been demanding a financial stimulus for its revival but the Centre and state government have failed to support the industry for its revival. He said that the state government could at least waive off or cut the electricity and water bills of hotels and restaurants as well as reduce the property tax for the next two years. He said that the state government recently announced an urban employment guarantee scheme and financial assistance scheme for one lakh registered workers but no relief was granted to the worst-hit sector.

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11 EU Countries Agree on Coordinated Approach for Restoration of Free Movement and Travel

The Foreign Ministers of 11 Europen Union Member States believe that the freedom of travel and movement across Europe is an essential part of the European project, and as such, they have agreed on a common approach to its restoration. The Foreign Ministers of Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Malta, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Cyprus meet this week through a video conference to discuss a coordinated approach to the restoration of free movement and travel in the European Union. Throughout the conference, the ministers reiterated their common goal is to restore freedom of movement for all citizens, regardless of whether they travel for professional, educational or simply private purposes, on the basis of proportionality and non-discrimination. According to a press release of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministers welcomed the guidance published by the European Commission on May 13, 2020, towards the restoration and rebooting of tourism and transport for 2020 and beyond. As a result, the ministers agreed on several principles. “We believe that a process in stages that the EU-Conciling Member States with each other is the best way to normalize cross-border travel gradually. It will be crucial to explore how travel can be made possible without the risk of an increase in infections getting out of control,” the press release reads. The ministers also agreed that it is essential for the EU citizens to return home safely and not only to travel within the EU freely, therefore urging close coordination between the member states regarding the conditions for lifting restrictions and quarantine regulations and restoring transport services. “We believe that the restoration of cross-border free movement can take place gradually if the current positive trends continue to lead to epidemiologically comparable situations in the home and target countries. The reopening of border crossings and thus the situation of cross-border commuters deserve special attention,” the press release of the German Foreign Ministry reads. It further adds that the ministers also called on tourism companies and relevant private actors to use the coming weeks to take reasonable precautions to protect travellers as soon as freedom of travel and movement is restored. During the meetings, Polish Minister Jacek Czaputowicz informed his interlocutors that Poland supports the approach proposed by the European Commission, which envisages a gradual lifting of internal border controls based on objective criteria, noting that the assessment of the current epidemiological situation remains crucial. Only this week, Members of the European Union Parliament have raised their concerns regarding the imposed border controls between the Schengen Area members states amid the Coronavirus pandemic, as a way to deal with the number of infections. The Parliament has called for a coordinated effort to restore a functioning Schengen zone as soon as possible, after free travel in the EU was interrupted in the last two months for most Europeans due to the closing of internal borders in most parts of Europe.

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7 Fare Bands For Domestic Flights; Ticket Prices Between Rs 2,000-18,600

New Delhi: Air tickets will be capped between Rs 2,000 and Rs 18,600 in seven bands depending on flight duration for the next three months, the government said on Thursday, as it announced details of resuming domestic air travel after a two-month suspension because of the coronavirus crisis. Flights under 40 minutes will have a lower and upper limit of Rs 2,000 and Rs 6,000, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said. For flights with duration between 40 and 60 minutes, there will be a lower and upper fare limit of Rs 2,500 and Rs 7,500, the agency said. Tickets on flights between 60 and 90 minutes should be priced between Rs 3,000 and 9,000. Flights between 90 and 120 minutes, like the Delhi-Mumbai route, will have a lower and upper fare limit of Rs 3,500 and Rs 10,000, the DGCA said. Flights between 120 and 150 minutes, like the Delhi-Bengaluru route, will have a lower and upper fare limit of Rs 4,500 and Rs 13,000. Flights between 150 and 180 minutes, like the Delhi-Imphal route, will have a lower and upper fare limit of Rs 5,500 and Rs 15,700, the regulator said. Flights between 180 and 210 minutes, like the Delhi-Coimbatore route, will have a lower and upper limit of Rs 6,500 and Rs 18,600, it added. Besides the pricing restrictions, protective suits and goggles for flight attendants and no food served on board planes were among the rules proposed by the Civil Aviation Ministry on Thursday. After a two-month COVID-19 shutdown, airlines will be allowed to resume flights with about a third of operations from Monday, but on domestic routes only. The regulations, in effect until August. 24, include full body protective gear for airline crew, temperature checks, face masks and shields for all passengers and the fare band, the ministry said. The gradual opening up of air travel comes as the number of recorded cases of the novel coronavirus in India crossed 1.12 lakh , the Health Ministry said, increasing by 5,609 from the previous day - one of the highest single-day rises in recent weeks. Deaths stood at 3,435. Countries around the world are setting rules for flying as coronavirus lockdowns ease in many places. India's Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told reporters the decision to regulate fares based on the flight's duration was to prevent ticket prices from spiking as there is pent-up demand. "We are dealing with an extraordinary situation. If you don't fix it, it is entirely conceivable that fares would have sky-rocketed... We have to draw a balance between the requirements of the consumer and the viability of airlines," Mr Puri said. Airlines are allowed to sell all seats on board, however, 40 per cent of the seats on a flight must be priced less than 50 per cent of the price band, the minister said.

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Bhutan Ready To Welcome Back Tourism Following Zero COVID-19 Deaths

Bhutan has proven to be a real success story with the lowest reported cases of Coronavirus in the Indian sub-continent. The country reported its first case on March 6 when a 76-year-old American tourist tested positive for the virus and was immediately quarantined. 73 direct contacts were also traced and quickly moved into quarantine areas. The Kingdom of 750,000, shares vulnerable borders with India and China and has been a popular tourist destination for both Indian and Chinese travelers who are desperate to escape their overcrowded countries. When the Bhutanese people helped out by donating crops and food to those in need, and hotels offered up their properties as quarantine facilities, the true Bhutanese spirit shined through and it worked. When the Covid-19 pandemic completely shut down the tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan, it created a devastating blow to a region dependent on visitors. In the wake of such loss, the Tourism Council of Bhutan is using this opportunity to make tourism more efficient by making entry procedures easier. According to Tourism Director General Dorji Dhradhul, this is one of the major complaints from tourists. The tourist has to book through a local operator and pay in advance, which proves frustrating in making plans. In the future, it will be made easier by adding online booking options and credit cards rather than complex wire transfers as were often used in the past. In a long-range discussion with Mr. Dhradhul, it is apparent that the country is ready to begin welcoming tourists once the borders are open with other countries. How will you safely restart tourism to the area? Bhutan opening its borders for travelers is, of course, dependent on positive developments globally. So far, Bhutan has been blessed. With only a limited number of COVID-19 cases, all imported and none local transmission, Bhutan has withstood the storm well. (Currently, Bhutan has no tourists after the only tourist, an American woman who tested positive for Covid-19 on March 20 left the country.) A clear result of an effective nation-wide effort lead by His Majesty The King and embraced by all Bhutanese. The restart of tourism to Bhutan is likely to be easier than it will before other travel destinations. This as due to our longstanding tourism policy of “High Value, Low Volume,” aptly put by His Majesty during one of the Royal Addresses in 2019. “… when Bhutan opened to foreign tourists in the 1970s, our leadership resisted the temptations to harness the quick fortunes from mass tourism and instead was prescient to formulate a visionary policy of High Value – Low Volume tourism. The wisdom of our tourism policy has led to the emergence of a strong Brand Bhutan – an exclusive destination…” This resulted in Bhutan, over the last five decades, becoming the destination for the experienced traveler looking for a place with pristine nature and unique culture while avoiding the crowds that flood other destinations. As well-being will be the overarching theme of the so-called new normal post-COVID-19, Bhutan plans to restart its tourism by introducing the travel world to Bhutan as a wellness and well-being destination. Joining our well-known tagline, “Happiness is a place”(#happinesisaplace), we now are also using the new tagline “Happiness is a space” (#happinessisaspace). Referring to the ease of physical distancing in Bhutan, and as such, allowing for everyone’s safety and also the combination of body, mind, and spirit experiences that create a sense of well-being for all those visiting Bhutan. We are planning several campaigns to our main target markets around the world, including the United States, where we receive many of our high-end travelers from. As people love to have something to look forward to, and even more so these days, we join the worldwide campaign of #plannowtravellater. For many travelers, Bhutan is a destination they have always wanted to visit, and to encourage them, we are now in the process of improving and updating the services, systems, and procedures including the travel booking to a 21st-century standard. Will it become easier for tourists to book a trip to Bhutan? We fully intend to make planning travel to Bhutan easier, and the in-country experience more adjustable, by the time global travel resumes again. Of course, we have no real influence on when other countries once again open their borders for leisure travelers. And as Bhutan has limited international gateways (Thailand, India, Singapore, Nepal, and Bangladesh), this is something that concerns us. Already before COVID-19 stopped the world in its tracks, we were exploring additional direct connections, for example, by adding a Middle Eastern and Far East country to the mix. What restrictions could stay in place for visitors? Our tourism policy of “High Value, Low Volume” will remain in place as it promotes sustainable tourism based on the carrying capacity of our nature, and our socio-cultural, and infrastructural reality. Under this unique policy, since the start of tourism in the 1970s, all tours in Bhutan are guided, which becomes even more relevant today when quarantine practice is becoming a new norm. In addition, we might need to add certain measures as set by the World Health Organization and our own Ministry of Health. Potentially rapid test kits and contact tracing apps will prove to be a relatively easy way of adjusting to the requirements of a new reality. Currently, a contact tracing app is already in use. What can tourists expect when they visit in the future? An experience unlike any other. I feel the take-away for tourists to Bhutan can be both on a personal level as well as from a worldview perspective. The take-away on a personal level is, as expected, personal. Some get new inspiration and feel rejuvenated from having been in Bhutanese nature, being surrounded by majestic mountains, traversing our scenic valleys with winding rivers and encounters and conversations with happy Bhutanese people. All the while, breathing in the fresh mountain air. Others find their inspiration in the social fabric of Bhutan, where family ties and a sense of community is still very strong. And where the people keep the age-old traditions and values alive in everyday life despite the pressure of the rapidly changing reality. Others again experience a sense of spiritual awakening in Bhutan. Not just because of the monasteries dotting the landscape at every turn, the smell of incense in the air, and the ever-present monks and nuns chanting their mantras. It is something truly more intangible, which is all-encompassing from the moment the plane makes its final descent into the Paro Valley, to the final goodbyes to their guide and driver after a journey unlike any other. Looking more from a worldview perspective, I would say that Bhutan can be an inspiration to a world that has seen more pervasive and invasive changes in just the last decades than ever before in world history, recent events notwithstanding. With its continuous pursuit to combat climate change, its holistic view on the nation’s development, and its people’s well-being, all within the realm of the philosophy of Gross National Happiness and extraordinary leadership of our Kings, Bhutan is trying her best to lead by example. Bhutan is already a carbon-negative country, the only one in the world. What message can be sent to the world about promoting health and well-being opportunities in Bhutan? Up until now, Bhutan has mainly promoted itself as a destination with a unique culture and a pristine nature. While this still remains true today, Bhutan has even much more to offer. In the last decade, a worldwide growing trend of wellness/well- being travel could be seen. Especially in the wake of COVID-19, this travel trend will grow only more, as people worldwide will reflect on their lives, what truly matters to them, and most likely seek ways to improve their mental and physical well being. Bhutan, called ‘Menjong – The Land of Medicinal Herbs’ in its olden days, with its Gross National Happiness, its peaceful surroundings make a great destination for these travelers to reflect, relax and reset. Bhutan’s well-being offer is increasing yearly. From yoga and meditation to Buddhist philosophy teachings, from traditional medicine treatments to other unique spa experiences, from retreats to pilgrimages. All to be experienced in a serene and spacious environment. And while it may feel contradictory, with the new practice of physical distancing, allowing you to truly connect to yourself and your surroundings. Do you currently have any COVID-19 cases in the country? To date, we have 21 COVID-19 cases, all of which are imported, so there has not been any local community spread. 5 of those 21 patients have already recovered, and we are thankful that we have had no loss of life so far.

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Domestic flight services to resume from Monday, New Rules & Regulations

The Centre on Wednesday said domestic flight services would resume from Monday in a “calibrated manner”, laying the ground for gradual resumption of scheduled commercial flight operations that have been shut since March 25. “Domestic civil aviation operations will recommence in a calibrated manner from Monday May 25, 2020. All airports and air carriers are being informed to be ready for operations from May 25. SOPs for passenger movement are also being separately issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation,” Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted. All domestic passenger flight operations have been suspended for the 54-day lockdown period that began on March 25. However, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights and special flights approved by the aviation regulator DGCA were allowed to operate. The development comes despite some state governments, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, expressing concern on resuming flight operations during the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief ministers. In addition to this, certain state governments have been apprehensive of allowing people from locations highly impacted by Covid-19 to enter their borders. A number of new rules and regulations are expected to be put into place that will change the flying experience. These include mandatory social distancing at airports, revisions in the way security procedures are conducted to ensure minimal contact, use of face masks and personal protective equipment by passengers and employees, among others. A variety of new health checks may also be instituted that could result in longer queues at airports and increased wait times. Earlier this month, in a communication to airport managers across the country, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) asked all airports to be in preparedness to handle flight operations. Issuing a set of standard operating procedures, AAI’s directorate of operations said: “Once the lockdown period is declared to be over, airports shall be facilitating limited domestic/international scheduled flights in phases, to start with, may be at 30 per cent capacity to facilitate required social distancing”. It added initially, airline operations may be limited to Tier-l cities and major Tier-ll cities. The Centre is looking at the option of making the Aarogya Setu app mandatory for flyers to have it installed on their phones while taking any flight. “If the proposal is approved in the Aviation ministry, passengers who do not have the app on their phone would not be allowed to board their flight,” PTI quoted an official as saying.

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Tourism & hospitality industry begins layoffs

New Delhi: Failing to get any financial assistance from the government under the ₹20-lakh-crore package, many jobs in the travel services, tourism and hospitality space in India are likely to get axed in the next three months, industry insiders familiar with the developments said. After waiting in vain for government aid and following multiple lockdown extensions restricting hotels, restaurants and air travel operations, the travel service providers, hospitality companies and tour operators have begun laying off staff. As per the last Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) order, international and domestic air travel was to stay suspended in phase four, but on Wednesday, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted domestic flight operations will recommence in a calibrated manner from May 25. Nevertheless, travel services providers are not expecting a full recovery till next year. Overall job loss estimates for the entire tourism value chain — including hotels and restaurants, airlines, tour operators, transport providers and all other allied businesses — battered by the Covid-19 pandemic, may lie between 38 million and 50 million as per industry body FAITH and CII. Mandeep Lamba, president, South Asia, at hospitality consultancy HVS Anarock, said with an all India hotel occupancy rate of 11% and revenue per available room dropping by 87% in April, the sector is .. Sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday, sister companies Thomas Cook and SOTC sacked close to 350 employees with more job cuts likely to follow at the two companies. Thomas Cook did not respond to ET’s queries and requests for comment till the time of going to press. Global travel management services provider FCM Travel Solutions is said to have sacked over 200 people so far besides benching 15% of their staff without pay. Rakshit Desai, MD of the company, confirmed the lay-offs but declined to share exact numbers. He said the company employed 2,000 people prior to the lockdown. “We are looking at least three months of zero revenue. So, some opex rationalisation had to be done. We don’t have the capacity. Not many businesses can't withstand months and months of zero revenue. I would be hugely surprised if there are other companies in our sector that are not in the same situation,” he added. Dhruv Shringi, CEO of Yatra.com, said the company has undertaken cost cuts which are not restricted to only salaries, but did not respond to the query on lay-offs. Pronab Sarkar, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), a body representing more than 1,700 tour operators, said his members had begun laying off staff.

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