Hazel Jain – Page 138 – Tourism Breaking News

Goa’s new tourism policy not as visualised: TTAG

October 15, 2020

The Goa government yesterday approved the long-awaited Goa Tourism Policy 2020, with a vision to make the state the “most preferred destination around the year for high-spending tourists” by 2024. Commenting on the new tourism policy that Goa has approved, Nilesh Shah, President, Travel & Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), says, “We welcome the new tourism policy which was a long-standing demand. But we are not happy with the way it is being implemented and it is not as per our inputs and discussions. The new policy is not what was initially visualised by Manohar Parrikar which was to leave the growth of the tourism industry in the hands of the private sector. The tourism board was to have five members from the private sector and five from the government. But I see that three members have been added to the government side and another three are to be appointed by the government from the industry. As a result, the Board now constitutes of 12 members from or by the government and only 5 to be appointed by the industry.” He added that the tourism board will not be industry-driven as was originally planned and its CEO will be appointed by the government and not from outside as was requested.

TAAI appoints Interim Chairman for UP & UK Chapter

October 15, 2020

Sunil B Satyawakta from Lucknow has been appointed as Interim Chairman by the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) for the Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand Chapter. He joins Gayatri Khanna (Hon. Secretary) and Swati Dimri (Hon. Treasurer) as Office Bearers of the Chapter. This development took place on October 14, 2020 via a virtual meeting in the presence of the TAAI National President and the National MC. Satyawakta will retain this position until the next association elections that will take place in November 2020.

COVID passport ‘CommonPass’ starts trials this week

October 13, 2020

CommonPass, or a COVID-passport, is a technology framework that can be used by apps to verify an individual’s health status. It is being trialled by two airlines across a few sectors in the world. The system hopes to become a fail-safe way to verify a traveller’s health status and tally it against local entry laws. If it works, it could inspire governments to drop bans and quarantines.

No 7-day quarantine for tourists in Nepal with COVID-19 negative report

October 13, 2020

In a bid to revive the hard-hit tourism industry, Nepal announced that foreign tourists having COVID-19 negative report will not be required to quarantine themselves for seven days from October 17. Foreign trekkers may enter without quarantine if they produce a PCR negative report from October 17. Its tourism ministry is working to carry out instant antigen test for COVID-19 for foreign tourists upon their arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport.

GST on tour operators should be 1.8%: PP Khanna

October 13, 2020

Highlighting the reason why domestic tourism has not taken off in India, PP Khanna, President, Association of Domestic Tour Operators Association of India (ADTOI), said, “The GST on tour operators should be 1.8% with full set offs and not 5% which is making domestic tour operators uncompetitive. To survive, the domestic tour operators need to be supported have an operating cash subsidy to pay their salaries and operating costs.”

Aim to get 5-10% share of world’s adventure tourism market: ATOAI

October 13, 2020

Captain Swadesh Kumar, President, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) has said that India currently has negligible share in the US$ 750bn world adventure tourism industry which is poised to touch US$ 1.5 trillion in the post Covid world. “We want to work closely with the Central and State government to get at a respectable market share of 5-10% in the medium to long run in the international market,” he said.

LTC funds can now be used to spend on items in 12% GST category

October 13, 2020

FM Nirmala Sitharaman made a slew of announcements to stimulate consumer spending and capital expenditure, including a special LTC (Leave Travel Concession) cash voucher. She said LTC funds could be used to spend on goods and items in the 12% GST category. However, FAITH and TAAI expressed disappointment stating that LTC funds of government employees will now be redirected to buy consumer goods.

British Airways’ CEO replaced amid crisis

October 13, 2020

British Airways has announced it is replacing its chief executive Alex Cruz as the airline navigates “the worst crisis” facing its industry. Cruz, who has been with BA since 2016, will be immediately replaced by Aer Lingus boss Sean Doyle. Cruz will stay on as non-executive chairman for a transition period before Doyle takes on the role.

Dolphin safari launched on Ganga in three states

October 13, 2020

The National Mission for Clean Ganga launched an eco-tourism programme that includes dolphin safari at six sites on the occasion of ‘Ganga River Dolphin Day’ celebrated on October 5. These six sites are in three states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, which are blessed with the River Ganga.

Instead of being bailed out, we are now deprived of LTC fund: TAAI

October 13, 2020

Sharing her thoughts on the changes made by the FM on LTC, Jyoti Mayal, President of TAAI, said, “The Finance Minister in her stimulus speech has announced that government officials can use their LTC funds to buy consumer goods for the festive season. The tourism industry instead of being bailed out is now deprived of the LTC fund. Our industry is dying and our employees are losing jobs in every avenue but the Prime Minister has forgotten of our existence – the backbone of India.”