The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH) met the Ministry of Commerce and asked for support. It includes rating the SEIS @ 10% and crediting it immediately on the basis of the previous financial year, deemed export status, SEIS on gross forex earnings, zero-rating of tourism exports & GST refunds to tourists, strategic focus on mice sector, EPCG on tourist vehicles and relaxing export obligations among others. Most of the tourism enterprises support their infrastructure (hard & soft) by managing different tourist seasons. As all global source markets are hit, it will be the domestic business of India which will keep India tourism businesses running. In its urge to the government for support FAITH has asked for deferment of all statutory liabilities, setting up a COVID 19 Tourism relief fund for an interest-free 10-year working capital loan for salaries & establishment costs, increase of banking moratorium period to 12 months without any interest for or for direct benefit transfer to affected employees and a national legislative tourism task force of central and state governments. It has also requested ESI funds to be used for compensating employees as βstay at homeβ is a forced and mandatory curative medical need to fight the virus and also PF coverage of all tourism travel & hospitality employees as under the PM Rozgar Pradhan Yojana. The association went on to shared the examples of the US & the UK, Thailand and Indonesia where salary support, tax exemptions and stimulation of domestic travel is being extended by governments for tourism, travel & hospitality.
