Revival of Travel and Tourism Through the Bio Bubble Model

Shalmoli Sarkar — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 08:35:08 +0000

Kerala, fondly known as god’s own country is reopening its tourism gates to soften the impact of the pandemic on the industry. Tourism alone in Kerala accounts for 11.5 percent of the state’s GDP and employs 1.5 million people. The lockdowns in the pandemic have cast a spell of zero revenue on the tourism industry for over a year. With vaccination drives acing its pace, Kerala tourism is beginning to reopen its tourism by strictly adhering to the bio-bubble model.

What is the Bio-Bubble model that Kerala tourism will be adhering to?

Bio-bubble is a sanitised, safe and secure environment in which the tourists administered with a minimum of a single jab will be insulated from the external contacts. It is mandated by the government that all the possible tourist contact with locals right from cab drivers to tour guides and operators to the staff in hotels, resorts, and homestays must be vaccinated.

However, this secured cocoon model adopted in the recent Tokyo Olympics as well as in the 2021 IPL tournament has burst as around 70 athletes tested positive in the opening ceremony despite following strict protocols of RT-PCR tests. The IPL tournament had to be postponed as cricketers from the KKR team were posted positive. With this, the sustainability of Bio-bubble remains a question. Can this be implemented in the travel and tourism sector in a highly populous country like India? Can there be other ways of safe tourism practices?

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Tourism alone in Kerala accounts for 11.5 percent of the state's GDP and employs 1.5 million people.

Safe tourism practices to be adopted in the industry other than Bio-bubble

Kerala’s tourism was not the only one to suffer the blows of the pandemic, according to the Rajasthan Tourism Department, Rajasthan witnessed a drop of almost 60 percent in the arrival of foreign tourists and 70 percent in domestic tourists.

As per a survey conducted by JLL property consultancy, 11 major cities across the country witnessed a decline of 29 percent in revenue per available room (RevPAR) during January-March 2020. After the virus breakout, travel and tourism will not remain the same as they used to be, but for revival, there is a dire need to implement safe tourism practices to instill confidence in people about safe traveling.

Introducing cycle trips: To establish social distancing, sightseeing on cycle trips can be implemented. The earlier manner of sightseeing in groups while walking has a high risk of contracting the virus. The travel companies can organise cycle tours for travellers during low traffic hours and following the tour guide on a cycle where they can experience the nearby local markets, monuments, and short hiking locations. This sustainable form of sightseeing has been implemented in Jaipur.
Introduce slot bookings: Travel and adventure companies can introduce online slot bookings for activities such as boating, forest safari, kayaking, etc. Travellers will come in the designated time slot to experience the fun in a less crowded environment.
Contactless hospitality: The probability of contracting the virus remains high in hotels. Adoption of contactless services by the hotel chains is imperative to establish minimum contact. Hotels can keep digital menus or food ordering in hotels can happen through apps. All communication to reception or room service can happen through chatbots or video chats. The check-in and check-out process can be digitised by scanning the QR code and digital payment will ensure minimum contact. The entertainment and cooling systems in the rooms such as TV and AC remotes to be replaced by virtual control systems. The restaurant lounges also hold a high risk of contraction, where they can install air purifiers. Cloud-based Internet of Things (IoT) can be implemented for seamless coordination with the housekeeping staff, assigning staff duties, and adhering to hygiene compliances.

What lies ahead for the small hotels and travel companies amidst high hygiene and zero contact?

Smaller hotels have enough born the heat of lockdowns. Therefore, their growth is critical for the state’s economic growth. As per the data from the Ministry of Tourism, the industry’s collective loss i.e. transport and tourism have been pegged at Rs 1.58 lakh crore.

The big franchise-type hotels can partner with smaller hotels and travel companies that will empower the small hotels to manage day-to-day operations with the help of contactless technologies ensuring hygiene and social distancing regulations. The state’s tourism industry can revive by targeting the millennials who can work virtually from anywhere and offer highly personalised experiences.

The post Revival of Travel and Tourism Through the Bio Bubble Model appeared first on Dutch Uncles.

Travel Union, Sonu Sood’s B2B Travel App

DU Desk — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 05:35:08 +0000

When lockdowns were announced in the first wave of the pandemic, we witnessed the mass exodus of migrant workers eager to go back to their natives. The situation was distressing. Loss of jobs, no food and water, trains and buses stalled, and a fear of contracting the virus, forced these poor migrant workers to reach home via foot and bicycle. Pained by such incidents, Sonu Sood emerged as the Samaritan, who arranged ten buses for the migrant workers staying in Mumbai to travel back to their homes in Karnataka in the nationwide lockdown imposed.

The saying necessity is the mother of invention stands in its truest form with Sonu Sood’s recent B2B entrepreneurial venture- Travel Union, in the travel and hospitality space catering to the travel needs of rural consumers.

The pandemic has wrecked several sectors, but the maximum damage took place in the travel and hospitality sector. According to a report from KPMG, the Covid-19 crisis might render job losses worth 38 million in the Indian tourism and hospitality sector, ie.70 percent of its workforce employed.

In terms of revenue losses, a report from Thomas Cook India reveals that the consolidated loss in FY 21 amounts to Rs 416 crore from Rs 69 crore in 2020.

What is Travel Union?

Witnessing the difficulties faced by the rural travellers, Sonu Sood realised that the travel sector is highly unorganised in smaller cities and towns Travel Union is an assisted rural digital travel services platform through which a rural traveller can book a train, bus, flights tickets, and book hotels at competitive prices. The Travel Union app is available in English and Hindi language and plans to launch in 11 more languages.

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According to a report from KPMG, the Covid-19 crisis might render job losses worth 38 million in the Indian tourism and hospitality sector, ie.70 percent of its workforce employed.

How does it solve the problem for rural travellers?

When a rural traveller plans his journey, it is not pre-planned. The gap was more highlighted when during the pandemic, they had to interact with multiple operators. For a particular search, the travel app aggregates all the available price options and shows the Travel Union agents the lowest prices they can offer their customers. It provides inventory, competitive prices, and state-of-the-art technology directly from airlines, railways, hotels, trips, wholesalers, and aggregators. It also has the facility for online cancellations and refunds, eliminating the long wait customers usually have to endure.

How Travel Union is an employment opportunity for rural travel agents and small travel agencies?

Rural lodges and small hotels never came under the gambit of online booking. Moreover, the potential 38 million job loss is alarming for this sector to revive. Travel Union will onboard travel agents that will cater to the travel needs of rural customers at every district, block, and gram panchayat level. The travel agents to become a member of the Travel Union need not make any investment. However, if anyone wishes to become an IRCTC agent ID, a deposit of Rs 1199 will be needed which will be refunded within 8 months, making the ID free.

The small travel agents with Travel Union will have access to trains, more than 10,000 bus operators, over 500 domestic and international flights, and more than 10 lakh hotels. The revenue model for rural travel agents is through high margins generated from direct booking options with several travel service partners. It has a dedicated 24X7 customer care that will address the travel agent’s queries.

What lies ahead for the digital travel and hospitality platforms catering to rural India?

The launch of such travel tech platforms for the rural space will provide ample revenue opportunities to the small travel agents that are staring at unemployment. Also, it will give the rural lodges and small hotels an opportunity that has long remained untapped by online travel services. Foreigners, in general, are eager to experience rural India, thus in the future, there might be a chance for the rural travel platforms to ensure safe hospitality and hassle-free transportation for them in rural areas.

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Online Travel Startup – Dutch Uncles