Tourism Employment Support Scheme

Employees engaged in the travel and tourism sector can apply for short-term personal loans upto Rs. 30,000 from Kerala Bank (Kerala State Co-operative Bank) at an interest rate of 9 per cent.

• The Department of Tourism will absorb 6 per cent of the interest for a total period of 18 months, while the remaining 3 per cent will have to be borne by the borrower concerned.
• The validity period for availing the loan is till December 31, 2020. Repayment shall be done in 18 months including four months moratorium.
• Permanent/Contract/Daily wages employees working in licensed/accredited/classified/approved Resorts and Hotels, Tour Operators/Travel Agents, Transport Operators, House Boats, Restaurants, Serviced Villas, Grihasthali Units, Home Stays and Tourist Motor Boat Operators are eligible to apply.
• The employer shall file a formal application along with the details of employees, who wish to avail the loan, to the Deputy Director, Department of Tourism of the respective District.
• The list of employees submitted by the employer for availing credit facility must be certified by the Deputy Director, Tourism Department of the respective district.

Eligibility Criteria

Permanent / Contract / Daily wage employees working in tourism sector in Kerala in the following establishments.

1. Resorts & Hotels having valid Star classification from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India / valid license from the local self Government body (Copy of certificate to be enclosed)
2. Ayurveda Centres classified by the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala (Copy of certificate to be enclosed)
3. Tour Operators / Travel Agents - Accredited with the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala / India Tourism with registered office in Kerala (Copy of certificate to be enclosed)
4. Transport Operators accredited with India Tourism with registered office in Kerala (Copy of certificate to be enclosed)
5. Tour Operators / Travel Agents (with registered office in Kerala) who are having valid GST Registration (as Tour operator/Travel agent) and have filed GST returns for the last one year - Annual/Quarterly for 4 quarters/Monthly for 12 months (Copy to be enclosed)
6. House Boats having valid license from the Port Department (Copy of certificate to be enclosed)
7. Restaurants classified by the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala (Copy of certificate to be enclosed)
8. Serviced Villas - Approved by the Department of Tourism (Copy of certificate to be enclosed)
9. Classified Grihasthali Units (Copy of certificate to be enclosed)
10. Home Stays - Classified by the Department of Tourism (Copy of certificate to be enclosed)
11. Tourist Motor Boat Operators having valid license from the Port Department (Copy of license to be enclosed)
12. Heritage Resorts classified by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India (Copy of certificate to be enclosed).
13. Accommodation units classified by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India under the category Home Stay / Bed & Breakfast (Copy of certificate to be enclosed).
14. Adventure Tour Operators accredited with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India having registered offices in Kerala (Copy of certificate to be enclosed).
15. Those agencies engaged in adventure tour operation/adventure activity providers (with registered offices in Kerala) who have a valid GST Registration (as adventure tour operator/adventure activity provider) and have filed GST returns for the last one year (Copy of GST registration to be enclosed).

To start with, interested establishments shall register by providing necessary details. After approval of registration by the authority, the establishment will be provided with a confirmation message to their registered email address, and they will be able to log in to the portal for submitting applications to avail the loan facility.

You only have to register once in the system to avail of loans under Tourism Working Capital Scheme and Tourism Employment Support Scheme.

To learn more about the terms and conditions, click here