“India doesn’t need to build artificial attractions—we already have 43 UNESCO sites and unmatched natural beauty,” said Mugdha Sinha, former DG, Ministry of Tourism, GoI. She urged tourism players to repackage existing heritage with modern amenities and narratives. “Take them back to the Taj Mahal—but with better logistics, better storytelling,” she added.

Aditya Ghosh, Co-founder, Akasa Air, highlighted the environmental impact of India’s fast-growing aviation sector, stating, “Aviation is a part of transportation, and transportation is a part of the overall emissions we see in the country. We are the 3rd largest aviation market and also the 3rd largest emitter.” He added, “Today, aviation contributes to 1 per cent of emissions in India, which is less than the global average but with the rapid development of the sector, it does not take rocket science—no pun intended—to realise emissions will also grow at a faster pace.”

Uttar Pradesh government has approved 13 projects worth ₹118 crore for tourism development in Agra, including the construction of a memorial for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Additionally, Varanasi will also see development with 14 projects worth ₹74.31 crore. Projects include enhancements to Kailash Temple, Dariyanath Temple, Balkeshwar Temple and various other temples.

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The Government plans to take up 50 airport development projects, including new airports, in the next 5 years to boost the country’s aviation ecosystem. Currently, there are 159 operational airports in the country and the number has doubled compared from 74 in 2014.  “Civil aviation industry plays pivotal role in unlocking India’s economic potential,” said Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), GoI.

“India’s regional airports can unlock new destinations and democratise travel. If we connect them with well-crafted, thematic tourism circuits, we can drive demand beyond the usual hotspots,” said Suman Billa, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism. He urged closer alignment between the UDAN scheme and tourism promotion strategies. “Every small airport should become a launchpad for a unique Indian experience,” he added.

C.B. Ramkumar, Vice Chairman, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), stressed on the need for an updated national framework for sustainable tourism in India. He said, “Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI), launched over a decade ago, is now outdated and no longer reflects the current global standards. The STCI document exists, but it is redundant. It is not applicable in the world we live in today.”

Asserting that the idea of sustainability is embedded in Indian ethos, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Tourism, said, “There is a need to create success stories on sustainability in the tourism sector and replicate them across the country.” He also said all stakeholders of the sector must work with a collective vision to achieve sustainability in the truest sense.

In 2024, India’s hospitality sector shifted focus to tier II and III cities like Amritsar and Bikaner, accounting for nearly half of hotel transactions, as per JLL report. CY 2024 witnessed 42,071 keys in terms of branded hotel signings and 11,352 keys in terms of branded hotel openings. As many as 77 per cent of these signings were concentrated in tier II and III cities.

January 2025 Tourism Watch Quarterly Report by the World Bank Group noted that India’s initiatives such as e-Medical Visa and marketing campaigns like ‘Heal in India’ have bolstered India’s medical tourism. In 2023, the country attracted 476,000 foreign patients, which is among the highest in the world.