MOT revises guidelines of MDA Scheme to promote domestic tourism

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has announced the revised Market Development Assistance (MDA) Guidelines for the promotion of domestic tourism in early December 2020. These revised guidelines have come into force with immediate effect. Under the MDA Scheme, financial support will be provided to tourism service providers approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India for the promotion of domestic tourism. The tourism service providers would include travel agents, tour operators, tourist transport operators, hoteliers, bed & breakfast units, home-stays, motels, guest houses, tented accommodation units, standalone restaurants, convention centers and online aggregators.

Extent of financial support permissible:

For Participation in Travel Fairs / Exhibitions

• 90 per cent of economy class airfare / IInd AC train fare.

• 90 per cent of the cost of built up/ furnished stall and participation fee.

Upper Ceiling: ` 1,35,000 /- per trip including GST/Taxes and subject to actual (including air/train fare – ` 35,000/-, cost of stall l/ participation fee- ` 1,00,000/-)

Number of applications permissible:

A maximum of three tours in one financial year, with only one tour to a particular State. One additional tour will be permissible for visiting any State in the Northeast region, J&K and Ladakh. Service providers from States in the Northeastern region, J&K and Ladakh will be eligible for four tours in one financial year.

Notes:

a. The tour to a single city/state or a group of cities/states shall be for a minimum of three nights stay at the destination(s), excluding journey period and the assistance shall be permissible to only one person for each tour undertaken. b. Prior approval from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, to be taken before undertaking the tourism promotional activity.

c. Application for re-reimbursement claim in the prescribed format to be submitted to the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, immediately on completion of the activity with all documents and positively within a period of one month of completion of the activity. All documents have to be uploaded as per prescribed norms online.

This support will benefit the travel trade members who will be attending conferences organised by other trade bodies, Chamber of Commerce, and State Governments in India, etc.