Covid 19 Effects on Hospitality and Tourism in India: Literature Based Review

Abstract

This was a literature based reviewed study. The study explored studies conducted on Covid 19 and its effect on hospitality and tourism in India. Global situation of hotel and hospitality industry was also explored in brief. The study therefore relied on past studies to deduce findings, conclusions and recommendations. The study explored Covid 19 and its effects on Hospitality and Tourism in India.  After reviewing available studies on Covid 19 in India, it was found that Covid 19 resulted to an estimated USD 16.76 billion in revenue in the hospitality industry in India as for December 2020. This was attributed to cancel bookings, closure of hotels and leisure destinations and travel bans local and globally. The suspension of international flights further resulted to the country losing foreign exchange.  Revenue from hotels and other places of leisure drastically fell across Indian cities. It was also established that Covid resulted to massive job losses in the hospitality and tourism sector across India. In addition, sectors that are interlink with tourism and hospitality like food suppliers and travel agencies reported rising losses. Enterprises in the hospitality and tourism industry have to engage in survival strategies like engaging in food delivery to customers for sustenance. The government also has to introduce guidelines to salvage the hospitality and tourism industry including  allowing the  hotels to open their premises for certain hours of the day, rearranging eating places to ensure social distancing and compelling hospitality service providers to also observe guidelines issued by Ministry of healthy.

Key word: Covid 19, Hospitality, Tourism, India