Many lose jobs in tourism sector

MUMBAI: Vijay Sharma, 45, who worked for an inbound tourism company based in Delhi, as a manager for operations, was asked to quit work on March 31. A father of two school-going children, Sharma is now struggling to make ends meet.

“I have used all my savings in the last eight months. I need to pay both my daughter’s school fees. Although my extended family has offered to help, it has become crucial for me to start working. I have applied for jobs in various companies, but either they offer a lesser pay or they are unsure about hiring someone my age,” said Sharma.

The travel industry, one of the worst-hit industries during the Covid-19 pandemic, has been struggling to sail through the phase. The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) and others involved in travel and tourism in the country fear that the industry will suffer much more if the government does not open up tourist visas that have been unavailable from March.

Industry experts said that small enterprises have shut shop in the interim, as zero business is expected in and around tier-2 or tier-3 cities. Large establishments have cut their staff strength to almost 10%.

Senior employees have been sent on leave without pay and many have been sacked. Establishments with fewer than 25 employees are only paying their team bare minimum wages, which may help them survive and assist their families. Many employees have taken up odd jobs to manage their basic expenses.