On its deathbed, tourism needs local touch to revive

As industry has no way to revive itself, state govt thinks of concepts that can make it get going

As most sectors resume businesses following the easing of lockdown, tourism and hospitality sector is still waiting for a green signal from the government.

Hoping that tourism will be allowed from the first week of June, the Karnataka Tourism department is ready with Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) and has already kickstarted a campaign on social media promoting concepts like Love my Native and Come, See my Place with the tagline ‘Safety and Hygiene’.

Generating over 35 lakh direct and indirect jobs and contributing to 14.8 per cent of the State’s GDP, the tourism sector is currently struggling for survival. Unable to even pay salaries, rentals and other fixed charges, several small tour operators have already shut shop while medium and big operators are hanging by a thread, while multinational brands like Cox and Kings shut their operations and filed for insolvency much before the pandemic broke. With no financial stimulus to boost the tourism industry - neither by the Centre’s Rs 20 lakh crore economy package nor by the State, the sector is indeed in trouble.

Imam Sanjar, President of Karnataka Tourism Forum, said, “There have been zero bookings since March. Whatever bookings were done before that were cancelled. How can the employer pay salaries and also bear other fixed charges?’’.

According to a letter written by Tourism Minister CT Ravi to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, nearly 70 per cent of the people working with the tourism sector and hospitality sector have returned to their home towns.

He also admitted that the sector is on the death bed and needs stimulus from the government.

Left out

The Tourism and Hospitality sector was completely ignored by the Centre when it announced Rs 20 lakh crore financial stimulus to boost the economy. Sanjar called it “baffling” that the package did not even mention any relief for tourism industry.

Challenge

According to an estimate, the State attracts 18 lakh domestic tourists and five lakh foreign visitors. The Minister called it a challenge to convince people to travel, who are currently not inclined to.

Kumar Puskar, Managing Director of Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), said that infusing trust and confidence among tourists would be a priority once the sector is allowed to resume. The department is planning to launch a campaign stressing on safe areas (green zones) and hygiene to boost the confidence of tourists.

People are keen

The government’s ultra-deluxe Jungle Lodges and Resorts were prepared to return almost Rs 2 crore for cancelled bookings when the lockdown was announced, but more than 80 per cent said that would travel whenever it opens and refused to take back their deposits. This explains that people are keen to travel.

A survey done by a few tourism sector professionals indicated that nearly 95 per cent of people were willing to take a short break and visit a nearby place. “People have been locked up in their houses for more than two months now. They are ready to take a two-day or three-day break to a nearby place,’’ Nagendra, who was part of the survey, said.

Department’s plans

* Stress to ensure tourists with safety and hygiene by effectively using social media to woo customers.
* To promote tourism on social media #Survivalandrevival and #100%safeandhygine
* Promote local tourism with the concept Come and see my place, Dining out wiht in the city, to start Love your local movement
* To create regional and inter district tourism and subsequently for inter state tourism
* Ensuring safety, to open up for international tourists in a phased manner
* Encourage business travel and plan long term infrastructure projects

Industry demands

* Provide soft loan for working capital, Tax relief for a year
* Nearly 2.5 lakh tourist taxi drivers and tourist guides are jobless and the government should come to their help
* Pay MGNREGA salaries for all employees in the tourism sector for a year
* Provide interest free loans to revive tourism industry
* GST and other tax holidays for a year
* To cut permit charges, renewal fee and excise tax