Govt extends financial support

The GoI introduced the LGSCATSS scheme, to provide financial aid to travel experts to help them recoup after COVID-19. G Kishan Reddy, Minister for Tourism, Culture, and DoNER, gave sanction letters to stakeholders granted loans under the scheme.

Janice Alyosius

To fulfil the commitment of the Government of India towards the tourism sector that is going through a lot of stress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended support  to those effected under the “Loan Guarantee Scheme for Covid Affected Tourism Service Sector” (LGSCATSS). He  granted financial aid to the travel and trade partners. At an event in New Delhi, Union Minister for Tourism, Culture &DoNER, G. Kishan Reddy, handed over the cheques/sanction letters to the first lot of stakeholders who have been granted the loan under the LGSCATSS. DG Tourism G Kamala Vardhana Rao, ADG Tourism, Rupinder Brar, and senior officers from the Ministry of Tourism and the participating banks were also present.

Financial support under the scheme is disbursed to approved tour operators, travel agents, tourist transport operators, and regional level and local guides by the state governments and union territories in the form of credit under the Credit Guarantee Scheme at concessional rates. The aim of this financial support to the tourism stakeholders was to mitigate their hardships due to COVID-19 and help them revive their business and livelihood.

Reddy said that the ministry is collaborating with other ministries to introduce tourist themes such as wildlife tourism, cruise tourism, aqua tourism, and eco and rural tourism. “In a short span, with coordination of various departments and ministries, we have worked towards the development of the sector.” He also said that there are many regions in India that are unexplored and have potential for tourism.

The minister encouraged families to visit at least two tourist destinations each year, as this will help future generations learn about India’s rich culture and heritage. The government is also working towards developing various circuits to make them accessible to the tourists. The Ministry of Railways is running special trains to connect Buddhist sites and the Ramayan circuit. The government intends to make India the focal point of Buddhist tourists domestically and internationally.

He mentioned that the government aims to spend `5,500 crore to develop tourism infrastructure at destinations chosen by states through the SWADESH Darshan scheme. “We plan to develop these destinations to international standards,”  Reddy said.

Under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, 75 destinations have been chosen by the government, and will be developed in coordination with the other ministries to facilitate tourists. The said destinations will be made accessible to international tourists with infrastructure, which includes international airports such as the Kushinagar Airport.

The minister also spoke about various initiatives and interventions taken during COVID-19 to develop tourism industry. Around five lakh visas will be issued to foreign tourists without any charges, and 170 nations are now a part of the e-Visa approval facility. The Government of India has also appointed exclusive officers to promote the country’s tourism in 20 missions abroad in countries such as Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Singapore, Korea, and Japan.