Guestcolumn by Ra esh Mathur

There is a silver lining; Tourism will bounce back, for sure!

We take a look at Aerocity as a hotel zone, revisit some of the large format hotels that had begun successful forays into weddings, banquets and conferences. Small would appear beautiful, again, as the industry gears towards a slow start to business again.

byRakesh Mathur

So it’s back; another crisis that  Travel confidence shall only be restored steps will be taken. will directly impact the Hospi once a preventive or curative medicine is To my mind, the silver lining in the sky tality and Tourism Sector. But finally developed, which I hear could be is our huge domestic tourism potential. this is not the first time!! In my around November 2020 Once travel confidence is restored, the lifetime in the Hospitality In The hospitality industry will thus re great opportunities I see are in: dustry in India, it happened in 1994 as an cover very slowly and in stages. It may take  Encouraging mid-market and upmarket aftermath of the Mumbai blasts. It hap more than a year post elimination of the domestic travel as against outbound. We pened due to the plague in Surat. The incivirus to reach previous year levels. This will have lovely destinations all over the country dent of 9/11 in New York was a defining lead to tumultuous upheavals in the industry and those should be promoted. Kashmir moment on a global scale. due to its severe financial impact and pres comes straight to my mind. It was THE

The Coronavirus is Global on Destination among the elite be a much larger scale. Its effects as fore the Far Eastern and Euroan epidemic shall remain until a pean destinations took over. The cure is found. Its impact will, un-tapped North East of India is however, be longer-lasting. Both also a great destination. economic and social. One suggestion would be to give

On the economic front, we are a tax rebate on a domestic fam all experiencing the complete loss ily holiday travel. This will enof business and closure of hotels courage domestic travel, generwith no indication of when nor ate revenues, without any real malcy will resume. To my mind, cost to the government. the following may happen:  The current scenario provides  Once lockdown is over and us a great opportunity to promote travel is permitted, only essential Wellness Tourism which is India’s business travel will take place. inherent knowledge of Medita  Smaller meetings and Semi Kashmir, one of India’s lovely destinations. A tax rebate tion, Yoga, Ayurveda, Spiritualinars will be curtailed both as a on family holiday travel will boost domestic travel and generate ty, Vast knowledge of Astrology cost-cutting measure and due to revenue for the government. as a Science based on Astronomy its replacement by “online” and its impact on our environ meetings. sure on working capital. There could be ment and us. And promotion of India’s huge  Large Conferences, unless absolutely several sales of assets, a slump in revenues repertoire of vegetarian cuisines. There has critical, will be postponed or cancelled, as and consequent pressures on brands. been a worldwide resurgence of interest in all a cost-cutting measure. One thing for sure, apart from re-ener this in the past few weeks.  Foreign essential business travellers to gising the National Green Tribunal and  Once travel confidence is restored, hope India will not be inclined to take brief side Pollution Control Board, the Government is fully around October or November, the third trips to iconic tourist spots such as Agra, likely to re-define health, hygiene and sani great market to tap is to encourage Destina Jaipur, Ellora etc. This was a significant tation norms and enforce them with renewed tion Weddings, Weddings and Weddings, to tourism contribution. vigour. So, hospitality service providers who fill up the empty convention spaces!!  Western traffic to India will reduce dras have compromised on space, planning and One thing for sure. India will, as always, tically due to it being long-haul and they will implementation of proper hygiene and sani SURELY BOUNCE BACK. not be inclined to travel to the East, the ori tation norms, shall have a lot to worry about. gin of the virus. The challenge, of course, shall be the Rakesh Mathur is a veteran hotelier, and  “Work From Home” culture will impact un-organised sector, but looking at the presently President, Responsible Tourism travel. present mood of the government, concrete Society of India.