Forthcoming G-20 summit will push revival of battered hospitality industry

The smiles are back into miles as hospitality and tourism hardest hit during the pandemic because of the nature of the industry seeks to get back on trackThe subject lsquoIndiarsquos tourism strategy and growth postCOVID19rsquo was the focus of a virtual seminar by Mumbairsquos Indian Merchant Chamber IMC of Commerce and Industry Juzar Khorakiwala IMC president gave the welcome address for the address on the subject by Arvind Singh IAS Secretary Ministry of Tourism Government of India The chat was moderated skilfully by Farhat Jamal chairman IMC travel tourism and hospitality committeeEarly signsKhorakiwala cited how the tourism industry a huge earner for the Indian economy when it comes to GDP and foreign exchange has suffered for the past two pandemic years ldquoThe industry is finally witnessing a change as rising vaccination rates are increasing peoplersquos confidence Now because of a robust vaccination programme there are early signs of growthrdquo he stated setting the tone for an upbeat perspective for the sector Jamal took a deep dive straightaway asking the Ministry of Tourism secretary about how he envisaged the revival of the industrySingh said ldquoThere are early signs of revival in the industry From October to December last year hospitality providers and even homestays in remote parts of the country were reporting between 60 to 90 per cent occupancy They were all hopeful of a booming season ahead Then unfortunately the Omicron variant reared its head and there was a lull Post that we are seeing not only leisure travel but business travel too picking uprdquoOpen skiesThe big factor Singh explained was ldquothe opening of international flights on March 27 There are reports already of some international passengers coming in The opening will bring down high international fares For inbound tourist operators there was a tax collected at the source and that has been done away with by the Finance Ministry The domestic sector is doing well Some expect inbound tourism to come to 50 per cent of preCOVID levels by SeptemberOctober this yearrdquoIndia abroadTo the moderatorrsquos question about what the government is doing as far as packaging India overseas Singh said ldquoThe use of IT needs to be stronger in the tourism industry The Prime Minister has conveyed to all diplomatic missions abroad that you have to focus on the three Trsquos that are trade technology and tourism Specific officers have been identified in these diplomatic missions to work on tourism There is an emphasis on infra too The road and airport network is expanding rapidly A large number of airports are opening in the NorthEast The number of flights going to JampK and Ladakh today was unheard ofrdquoMICE movesJamal asked about Indiarsquos potential as a Meetings Incentives Conferences and Exhibitions MICE destination with Singh stressing ldquoWe have convention centres in not very wellknown places like the NorthEast A good one has come up in Varanasi with Japanese assistance A new one is going to be inaugurated shortly in Bodh Gaya A very important legal conference is going to be held in India shortly The G20 summit will be held in India in October 2023 We will be having a lot of events surrounding thatrdquoThe secretary reminded his online audience ldquoDuring this year we are celebrating our 75 years of independence During one iconic week in July the Tourism Ministry will be taking up events at prominent places associated with the Freedom Movementrdquo he said painting a picture of an industry poised to realise the truth of the adage lsquoThe night is darkest before the dawn And I promise you the dawn is comingrsquo