Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Tourism, Culture and DoNER Minister G Kishan Reddy on December 26, 2021, handed over cheques and sanction letters to the stakeholders who have been granted loans under the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Covid Affected Tourism Sector Services (LGSCATSS) at a programme organised by South Region of Ministry of Tourism at Hyderabad.
Speaking at the event, Reddy said that infrastructure is being developed in the temple town of Bhadrachalam and it would be the last station of the ‘Ramayana Circuit’. He also shared that a draft policy on tourism is being worked upon.
The Minister said that Tourism Sector was one of the most adversely affected service sectors by the Covid -19 pandemic impacting livelihoods of stakeholders related to Tourism Industry. “In order to mitigate their hardships and to help them revive their businesses and livelihoods, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted to extend financial support in form of credit under the Credit Guarantee Scheme at concessional rates,”Reddy shared.The main beneficiaries would be the Tour Operators, Travel Agents, Tourist Transport Operators, and the Regional level Tourist guides recognized by the Ministry of Tourism in addition to the local guides approved by the State governments, he said, according to a PIB release.
Around 32 LGSCATSS applicants identified by the South Region office of the Ministry of Tourism received cheques and sanction letters under the loan guarantee scheme at the event in the city.
Under this scheme, loan up to Rs 10 lakh is being extended to each applicant approved by the Ministry of Tourism and up to Rs 1 lakh is being extended to each Regional Tourist Guide recognized by the Ministry of Tourism and Tourist Guides recognised by the State Govt. and Union Territories.