"Omicron led the Tourism cancellation by 20 per cent," says: Sriharan Balan, MD Madura Travel Services

The tourism sector is facing a crisis due to the impact of coronavirus

India has faced a huge impact of pandemic COVID-19 in the economy and every sector. Taking notes from it, the Tourism Sector is in red due to the same as the whole year in 2020 due to lockdowns and travel restrictions are yet again facing a possible crisis due to the new COVID -variant- Omicron. According to the say tour operators, cancellations have increased during the holiday season.

As per Sriharan Balan, managing director of Madura Travel Services in Chennai, The Omicron threat is beginning to hit the tourism sector in India. In the last three days alone, travel agencies have seen some 20 per cent cancellations in outbound travel.

Following lockdown in 2020, the sector had started coming back on its feet this holiday season. But outbound bookings to Dubai, Europe and the US are beginning to see a fall ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations due to the Omicron threat. "Many who had planned to travel to these destinations this season are cancelling," Mr Balan said.

Every state has issued travel restrictions amid the impact of Omicron rising in the country. According to the Karnataka Govt., the state had received 2 cases of the new strain yesterday. India requests all the passengers travelling to go through RT-PCR test track the virus as soon as possible. In cities like Delhi and Chennai, the Govt. has started the fast method of RT-PCR test -Rapid PCR it might cost till Rs 3000 - 4000, the result will be declared within 30-90 mins.

In Tamil Nadu, the festive season in 2020 saw zero growth due to the pandemic. This year during the same period, the Omicron threat hit the industry hard again when the travel and tourism sector had just started recovering.

Customer interest in traditional travel agencies that offered customised services had begun to revive, but it appears the Omicron threat will slow the growth of these services.