Road to revival via skilling

Focused on the resurrection of the tourism industry, IATO aims to encourage the stakeholders on acquiring skill set on responsible tourism. Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, shares how they are helping members to hone their skills and prepare for the future.

Janice Alyosius

Skill development is the most important tool in reviving tourism. IATO is engaged in skill development in anticipation of the demand. Rajiv Mehra, shared that the association is focusing on health, hygiene and safety.

Revival will necessitate to spread positivity and motivate fellow trade partners chalking out plans for the required skill development post-COVID. IATO is communicating with the industry on adapting to the new normal, new technology, implementation of the nascent SOPs, educating the consumers about the destinations and its imperatives, encouraging stakeholders on acquiring skill set on responsible tourism and letting them know that skilling is an ever-evolving process with a very high obsolesce giving way to the new normal. This will motivate the minds in the trade to take up the challenge that awaits.

Talking about IATO’s demands from government, Mehra added, “Our one-to-one meeting with the Finance Minister is noteworthy, and first-of-its-kind, with the result on ground in terms of SEIS and border opening.” Mehra mentioned three points regarding their demand from the govt.

The association is expecting SEIS to come in real terms at the earliest, which will help IATO to have some funds for marketing & revival of business.

After e-tourist visa opening, their plea from the government is to open scheduled international flights.

To get rid of TCS, which has been applied on foreign tourists for the overseas packages booked by Indian tour operators as they are not liable to income tax and don’t have Indian PAN card.

COVID has impacted tourism sector badly. More than 10% of India’s employment suffered due to it. The inbound tourism impact on the economy during last financial year till 31st March 2021 was over 95%, which means loss of almost Rs 2 lakh crores on a direct basis. On an indirect basis, the loss is of almost Rs. 6 lakh crores.

Tourism impacts almost 9 % of India’s GDP assuming 75% loss of tourism business throughout the year, which would imply almost `15 lakh crore loss.