May 26, 2020 TnH Global

Countries which have announced rescue packages for tourism sector

The Indian Government is yet to offer any insight, support or confidence to the country’s endangered Travel & Tourism Industry, as to how they can restart and keep their business going in the wake of the current pandemic and its grave impact on the sector.

Elsewhere, many Governments across the world have announced a relief package for the tourism sector facing a serious threat to their existence due to the pandemic induced crisis.

The Government of New Zealand in its Budget 2020 presented recently has announced a $400 million targeted tourism recovery fund and a domestic tourism campaign, alongside an eight-week extension of the Wage Subsidy Scheme. The rescue package will also protect tourism assets in New Zealand.

In France, the government has announced cancellations of three billion euros worth of social security contributions for businesses affected by the Covid-19 crisis, mostly in the restaurant, tourism, culture and sports sectors.

France had enforced lockdown on March 17 to curb the spread of Covid-19 and lifted the lockdown on May 11th bringing some respite to small shops and services, however, restaurants, bars and large cultural venues remain closed.

The relief measures will help companies which lost income during the imposed lockdown period.

Under the scheme, French companies up to 250 employees in tourism, hotels, culture and events, would be exempted from paying four months worth of social taxes.

Italy has been the first and one of the most affected countries by the Covid-19 in Europe, necessitating a nation-wide lockdown. Now the country has started relaxation the lockdown. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte recently announced a €55 billion economic package to support businesses and citizens severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The new package also supports the country’s tourism sector that accounts for nearly 13 % of the Italian economy.

Under the new measures, the country’s low-income families will be granted a holiday bonus worth of €500 to be spent on accommodation. The new package givens tax discounts to hotels and beach resorts.

It is not that the tourism industries of the countries where governments have announced rescue packages for the sector are happy with the packages, but at least they have got some support in this critical time, unlike in India, where the Government is yet to give any guidance and vision to the Indian Tourism Industry to gain the confidence to keep their business going.