Page 48 - August-2020-Issue

ITDC charts way for the Tourism

Industry to operate in the New Normal

ith the economy re-
starting its engine, the
WHospitality and Touri-
sm industry is also gearing to
make a come-back. Intending
to embrace the new normal
and discuss the way forward,
Indian Tourism Development
Corporation (ITDC) hosted a
webinar on ‘Pre-paredness of
Hospitality, Travel & Tourism
industry in the present scenar-
io of COVID-19’. The webinar
was joined by Mr. G. Kamala
Vardhana Rao, CMD, ITDC;
Ms. Meenakshi Sharma DG(T),
Ministry of Tourism; Mr. Suman
Billa, Director, Technical Coop-
eration & Silk Road UNWTO;
Mr. Pronab Sarkar, President,
IATO; Mr. Subash Goyal,
Honorary Secretary, FAITH; Mr.
P. P. Khanna, President, ADTOI,
and Mr. Amaresh Tiwari, Vice
Chairman, ICPB representing
various segments of Hospitality,
Tours and Travels.
Valuable inputs were received
from the panellists who were also
of the views that if all the stake- Mr. G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, CMD, ITDC; Ms. Meenakshi Sharma, DG(T), Ministry
holders come together to support of Tourism; Mr. Pronab Sarkar, President, IATO; Mr. Subhash Goyal, Honorary
each other during such testing Secretary, FAITH and Mr. P. P. Khanna, President, ADTOI during the Webinar.
times, the industry can bounce
back stronger than ever. Domestic Addressing the panellist, Mr. G. not only provided rigorous train-
tourism is bound to revive first Kamala Vardhana Rao, CMD, ing interventions on health and
and so is India as a destination. ITDC said, 'The confidence quo- safety protocols to its employ-
We are confident that together we tient has to come back to the trav- ees but has also signed an MoU
shall overcome and bounce back eller to bring back the same. ITDC with AIIMS to form an advisory
stronger. All the panellists were has already completed a holistic body to monitor the situation of
unanimous that more than what training program on sanitization COVID-19 and take necessary
we do, it is important to properly and hygiene in all its units for the steps as and when needed.
communicate and convince the concerned employees and has The Corporation is committed
world and prospective travellers developed a SOP to be followed to place health and safety on top
that they are safe while travelling to handle the present situation. priority while retaining tradition-
to India. To restart its business ITDC has al hospitality.

48 KaleidOscope August, 2020