.jpg)
Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality, the policy federation of all the national associations representing the complete tourism, travel and the hospitality industry of India (ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB, IHHA, ITTA, TAAI, TAFI) hosted the first virtual India Tourism Vision Day on 8th October, 2020.
On the occasion, Nakul Anand, Executive Director, ITC Limited & Chairman, FAITH, along with the board and the Presidents of the ten associations discussed the opportunities and challenges faced by Indian travel, hospitality and tourism industry.
The conference revolved around the theme: For Indian Tourism to thrive tomorrow, it has to survive and revive today.
In his address to the fraternity, Nakul Anand, Executive Director, ITC Limited & Chairman, FAITH said that the association and their executive committees across the country have been undertaking countless initiatives to double the global tourism competitiveness ranking of the country.
He said that the association’s first goal is to move India into the top-20 ranks in global tourism competitiveness in 5 years post-COVID and then in the top 10 ranks of world tourism competitiveness ranking in the next five years.
Terming tourism industry as the next growth driver for India, Anand highlighted that, “Alike the white revolution, the green revolution and the digital revolution, the time now, is for a Tourism revolution – leading to GDP growth, forex earnings and job creation.”
He also envisioned having a tourism economic footprint of $ 500 bn in the post-COVID normal, which according to him would double the economic footprint of tourism and unleash major employment growth for India.
As per the latest report by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), each vertical of tourism industry – travel agents, hotels, tour operators, tourist transporters, restaurants, guides etc are facing worst ever crisis due to COVID-19. Given the situation, Anand said that “It is essential for the industry to sustain tourism and talent, till the time the vaccine is developed.”
For the industry’s sustenance, the FAITH Chairman requested for a Tourism COVID-19 Fund set up by the Ministry of Tourism and a National Tourism Council comprising of all relevant ministries and all chief ministers. “The council will enable fast track centre state level tourism decision making and work on a ‘One India One Tourism’ approach leveraging and utilising full synergies of India’s tourism potential across all states. This will raise the decibels for going Vocal with Local,” he added.
“The tourism industry has been identified as one of 26 most stressed industries by the RBI expert committee, eligible for restructuring. We thus need to ensure that an across the board moratorium is made immediately applicable for tourism enterprises till March 2022 or till complete recovery happens and there should be no interest on interest during that period,” said Anand.
“As we restart tourism from a zero base today across all our verticals, we need revival policies in terms of GST correction, export status, infrastructure status, industry status, secured refunds, SEIS,” he added.
Anand also expressed his vision to make India one of the most preferred Tourism destinations both for domestic and international tourists offering best in class tourism experiences, infrastructure & services right here in India.
The Faith Chairman thanked both central and state governments for their continued support and guidance. Concluding his address, Anand said, “As Chairman FAITH, I will be failing in my duty if I do not bring to light the gravity of the situation that confronts us.”
