Ministry of Tourism sets up National Tourism Task Force

To provide some relief to the tourism and hospitality industry of India, the Ministry of Tourism has constituted a national tourism task force, to be headed by the Minister of State for Tourism (I/C), Govt of India.

An order signed by the Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Rupinder Brar, on April 27, states that the task force will include state tourism ministers, joint secretary-level officers of the concerned central ministries, and representatives from associations like FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, WTCII as well as heads of tourism and hospitality associations.

Talking about the severity of the outbreak of Covid-19 and its impact on the tourism and hospitality sector, the orders read that its fast revival is of paramount importance as it contributes substantially to the GDP and employment rate of India.

“Ministry of Tourism has constituted the National Tourism Task Force to meet the challenge posed by the outbreak of Covid-19 and make appropriate recommendations for the revival of the tourism sector in the country. Ministry of Tourism shall hold the first meeting of the National Tourism Task Force shortly,” reads the order.

Earlier, the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH), the policy federation of all the national associations representing the tourism, travel and hospitality industry of India, had appealed to the Centre for setting up a National Tourism Task Force of all relevant ministries of the Central Government along with Ministry of Tourism and chief secretaries of state governments and industry stakeholders.