An increased vaccination pace can give a boost to the tourism and hospitality sector

In order to revive the crippled industry, people in the travel and hospitality sector opines that the increase in the vaccination pace is the only solution.

As the lockdown session eases, many people are planning to go on a vacation mode.

PA Mohammed Riyas, the Tourism Minister of Kerala has proclaimed certain 100 per cent Covid vaccination areas by giving importance to vaccinating the people who are engaged in the industry. In order to put Kashmir as a safe zone for people, Sarmad Hafeez, the Tourism Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir also increased the vaccination pace.

By giving importance to vaccinating the front-desk professionals, displaying the status of the vaccinated staffs for public and arranging for a dose for the workers living in remote areas are the steps that the industry insiders opine shall instil faith in the visitors. Amanpreet Singh Bajaj, general manager of Airbnb of India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan stated, “We believe a slow unlock will bring back domestic travellers, who will be looking for scheduled accommodations and safe ways to travel. Vaccine access will help bring back the economic growth that tourism enables.”

OYO rooms shall display the vaccine status of the staffs and partner hotels in their website. Rohit Kapoor, CEO of OYO in India and Southeast Asia stated, “We will be updating which staff is vaccinated once the vaccines are available in the remote localities where our properties are located.”

Vikram Lalvani, chief of revenue, sales and destinations of Sterling Holiday Resorts opines that the vaccinated people shall go for a vacation as a break.

Travelling to hilly areas have received a major setback. Deepjyoti Biswas, a professional trek and tour guide from Kasol, Himachal Pradesh stated, “We are eager to open up, but doing so without being immunised is a risk to our lives and our families. We have to meet travellers, so we want to get vaccinated, but tourists, too, should only travel once they are vaccinated.”

Prahlad Patel, Culture and Tourism Minister stated, “Vaccination is going to drive the tourism sector’s revival and we are working on a uniform policy and setting up protocols for travellers getting vaccinated against Covid-19.”

Shivya Nath, a travel writer opines, “(Travel industry employees) don’t have the luxury to work from home. Often, hotels are closed premises where staff is vulnerable. In parts of Europe, the US and the UK, a major chunk of the population is vaccinated and people are resuming normal life. As soon as vaccination happens, we will be able to resume travel again.”