Kerala Travel Mart Society (KTM) has appealed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for urgent relief measures for the country’s tourism and hospitality sector, reeling under severe distress caused by geopolitical tensions in West Asia and mounting operational costs.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Tourism emphasised that while the Central Government will continue to extend support for tourism infrastructure and destination development, States/UTs must also actively contribute through integrated planning, destination management, ease of doing business, sustainability and stakeholder participation to realise the shared vision of world-class....

As global energy market disruptions continue and summer holiday travel peaks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged Indians to adopt a more restrained and responsible lifestyle to help ease pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves and fuel consumption.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the dedication to the nation key railway infrastructure projects worth around INR 1,535 crore in Telangana on May 10, 2026, aimed towards strengthening rail connectivity, improving operational efficiency and enhancing passenger and freight movement across the region.

According to 2025 figures, the top source countries for medical tourists include Bangladesh (3,25,127 arrivals), followed by Iraq (30,989), Uzbekistan (13,699), Somalia (11,506), Turkmenistan (10,231), Oman (9738), and Kenya (9,357).

The increased line capacity aims to enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. These multi-tracking proposals are poised to streamline operations and alleviate congestion. The projects said to be in line with the Prime Minister Modiji’s vision of a New India which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by way of comprehensive

Despite the complexities and current crisis, the overarching sentiment is largely optimistic. With India’s travel and hospitality sector currently contributing around 5–6% to GDP and projected to reach 10% in the coming years, the industry is poised for significant expansion. The industry experts couldn’t agree more.

The discussion around the country’s preparedness and future MICE trajectory took centre stage during the panel on ‘India’s MICE Readiness: Evolving Landscape’, steered by Neeraj Dhawan, Hon Treasurer, ICPB and Director, Falcon Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd., at SATTE 2026, where industry stakeholders shared insights on opportunities, structural gaps and the way forward.

The escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia have sent shockwaves through the global travel ecosystem, causing significant operational and financial disruptions for India’s travel, aviation, and hospitality sectors. India’s tourism and hospitality sector which contributes to nearly 8% to country’s GDP and support million jobs currently, has seemed to be taken a major hit too...

Women in tourism are no longer confined to the margins of the industry’s workforce; they are increasingly shaping its direction, influencing consumer behaviour, and redefining how travel experiences are conceptualised and delivered. Globally, women account for 54% of the tourism workforce, according to UN Tourism, a figure that significantly surpasses most other sectors.