Impact of Covid-19 on Tourism Economy

The COVID-19 Pandemic in India is a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-C0V-2) (contributors, 2021,). The first case of COVID-19 in India was reported in Kerala on 30th January 2020. This pandemic has had economic consequences beyond the spread of the disease itself and attempt to quarantine it. It is one of the kind of humanitarian disasters which has affected people, business and all the sectors worldwide, causing recession with more than a one third of the Indian population at the time being placed on lockdown (Sanjita Jaipuria, 29 Nov 2020.). Tourism is one the sectors most affected by the pandemic; indeed 60% of tourism jobs were lost during the first wave of COVID-19. The tourism economy has been massively affected by the spread of coronavirus due to the imposed travel restrictions and slump in demand among travelers. Tourism industry plays crucial role in India’s economic development contributing larger share in the employment generation augmenting country’s foreign exchange earnings (FEE). Rich social and normal legacy, verifiable and strict spots draws in worldwide traveler appearances (ITAs) towards India. This paper would analyze the impact of pandemic on tourism in five most tourist attracted places in India (namely: Agra, Goa, Amritsar, Shiml , Jaipur). The study is based on secondary data and studies the shift of tourism during the pandemic, its impacts, declining GDP contribution, resulting FEE. The research study also aims at providing the ways to revive the tourism sector