JAIPUR, India—The travel and tourism industry in the world’s second-most populous country is in crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a crippling blow to the industry, which accounts for around nine per cent of India’s gross domestic product (GDP). India’s GDP in 2020 was estimated at $2.66 trillion, according to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group. “This is one of the worst crises ever to hit the Indian tourism industry impacting all its geographical segments: inbound, outbound and domestic; almost all tourism verticals: leisure, adventure, heritage, meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions, cruise, corporate, and niche segments,” the CII said. In a report the confederation noted that the slow down, mainly due to lockdowns being imposed due to Covid-19, was initially expected to affect revenue streams till October 2021. The arrival of Omicron has changed those expectations with visitors cancelling bookings. Hotels that reported …