Revamped Article:
Tourism Ministry Collaborates with IRCTC to Bolster the Hospitality and Tourism Sector
Tourism in Delhi is on the rise again, thanks to a new alliance! The Ministry of Tourism has joined forces with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to breathe life back into the Hospitality & Tourism Industry, which has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic.
This partnership is part of the government's ongoing mission to bolster the tourism sector. Previously, the Ministry of Tourism has already signed similar deals with Easy My Trip, Cleartrip, Yatra.com, Make My Trip, and Goibibo. The key goal? To help accommodation units that have self-certified on SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness & Training for the Hospitality Industry) gain unprecedented visibility on the Online Travel Agency (OTA) platform.
Moreover, both parties will encourage these units to register on NIDHI and subsequently on SAATHI, promoting local tourist attractions with precautions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The ultimate aim is to gather data on accommodation units, enabling the design of evidence-based policy measures, promoting safe, honorable, and sustainable tourism.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked by the Deputy Director General (Hotels & Restaurants), Ministry of Tourism, and the JGM, Tourism, IRCTC in the presence of the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism. The agreement comes as part of the Ministry of Tourism's agreement with the Quality Council of India (QCI) for strengthening the Indian Hospitality & Tourism Industry.
The target of this collaboration? To forge strategic and technical co-operation in the Indian hospitality & tourism sector for mutual advantage in identified areas, primarily through the MoU. The duo will strives to take necessary steps to promote collaboration across the board, contributing to the betterment of the Indian hospitality & tourism sector.
In case you're curious, IRCTC is a prominent Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Railways, excelling in tourism services. This new alliance with the Ministry of Tourism serves as a strategic approach to rekindle and propel tourism in the post-pandemic era by leveraging rail connectivity, catering, and tourism infrastructure to ignite demand and foster sustainable growth.
Although the specific terms of this MoU between the Ministry of Tourism and IRCTC for post-pandemic tourism promotion aren't public, the collaborative model shown in existing MoUs with state tourism departments highlights a focus on sustainable tourism, regional connectivity, diverse travel experiences, and marketing as the cornerstones of such partnerships.
Sources:
[1] Rediff (2021). m.rediff.com/news/report/pdf/2021/jan/20/irctc-and-mizoram-tourism-to-promote-sustainable-tourism-development-in-state-the-new-india-express.pdf
[4] Times of India (2021). timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/irctcs-rail-tourism-operations-partner-for-popular-tourist-destinations-meghalaya-mizoram/articleshow/86040653.cms
In the spirit of fostering sustainable tourism development, the Ministry of Tourism and IRCTC aim to promote regional connectivity, diverse travel experiences, and marketing. This partnership encourages accommodation units to embrace travel as part of a sustainable lifestyle, showcasing local tourist attractions with precautions in place to ensure a safe and honorable journey.
