Domestic boost to travel & hospitality
The relief for the pandemic-hit tourism and hospitality industry has been slow in coming. But finally, the Modi government appears to have realised that the industry can be a key driver of growth among the services sector. Recently, it made a welcome announcement that will allow 500,000 eligible tourists to get visas free of cost, to be issued till 31 March 2022. The Centre has also announced financial support to more than 11,000 registered tourist guides/travel & tourism stakeholders. Working capital/personal loans will be provided with a 100 per cent guarantee to people in tourism sector.
State governments are also chipping in with tax waivers. The Delhi government has announced a two-month waiver on excise licence fee for bars in restaurants, hotels and clubs that were closed due to the lockdown in the city following the second wave of Covid-19. “For licence holders who have paid full fees for the second quarter, the amount will be adjusted in the subsequent quarter,” says a senior excise department official.
During 2019-20, the contribution of travel & tourism to GDP was 6.8 per cent. The sector accounted for 39 million jobs. Steps like waiving of tourist visa fees are helpful but would matter only when the foreign passenger traffic starts flowing in. In this context, industry veterans feel that all fully vaccinated tourists, whether international or domestic, with a valid certificate should be allowed to travel unhindered, while following due precautions such as wearing face masks, social distancing, etc. Destination-level safety and hygiene protocols should be revised in line with the new normal and implemented in earnest.
Hill states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand recently witnessed a rush of domestic tourists, underlining the yearning among the home-bound people for a holiday. Random visits to luxury hotels in major cities in India indicate that it is the domestic clientele which is keeping the wheels of business moving. The speciality restaurant Bukhara at ITC Maurya in Delhi often has a waiting time of over two hours.
“We are delighted to welcome back our guests to the iconic restaurants at ITC Maurya,” says Benita Sharma, area manager, North Luxury Hotels & General Manager, ITC Maurya. “Ours is one of the most popular dining destinations in the country that features an assortment of internationally acclaimed cuisines.” Covid protocols are being strictly followed. Several concepts to serve guests in a safe and secure manner have been introduced and ITC Maurya has launched ‘Gourmet Bubble’ so that people can indulge in celebrations as well as savour the gourmet delight in especially created safe enclosures. Wooden bats are being used at Bukhara to serve the dishes to the customers, keeping safety in mind.
Renovating to woo diners
Macchan at Taj Mansingh is packed as well. The iconic Chinese dining destination, House of Ming, which is nearly 45 years old, has just commenced renovations. To cater to the demands, the restaurant has been temporarily relocated to the lower lobby. The Taj Mahal Hotel also unveiled the re-imagined and re-designed avtar of The Chambers, India’s pioneering business club – initially launched over four decades ago. “New features include Rayasina, a 60-seater restaurant and a meeting room designed by Italian luxury brand, Stefano Ricci,” explains Arun Sundararaj, executive chef, The Taj Mahal Hotel. Currently, The Chambers has a presence in over half a dozen locations including Dubai with London and Bengaluru to follow soon.
Among other major developments, Rohit Khattar’s Old World Hospitality has ended its nearly quarter century-old tenure of curating cultural activities and dining experiences for members of India Habitat Center. IHC will now directly run the cultural and culinary experiences. The All American Diner has given way to the recently launched all-day-dining outlet called Habitat Hub. The Hub offers new dishes like Shakshuka, Burritos and Ratatouille. The Med, which focusses on healthy Mediterranean dishes, has replaced The Deck. Other institutions like Delhi O Delhi and Oriental Octopus will also undergo transformation. On the other side, Khattar is expanding his restaurant brands to other locations.
It’s not just big brands which are getting their act together. Humayunpur, a small village near Safdarjung Enclave in South Delhi, is slowly emerging as Delhi’s new hot spot with nearly 75 trendy and affordable restaurants. They offer food from North East India, Korea, China and Nepal. The village has transformed into a complete food destination, run mostly by women from the North East. Now how’s that for women empowerment?
Meanwhile, travellers now have the opportunity to plan their dream holiday for another reason. A new survey by luxury hotel.com, a hotel curative platform, indicates that room tariffs have plunged with Chennai offering world’s cheapest five-star hotel rooms.