He succeeds V. Vidyavathi, IAS (1991 batch), who has been moved to take charge as Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.

During the ongoing 13th ITM, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu's proposal for regional convergence and joint promotion approach, supported by transformative infrastructure projects across the region, signalled a positive omen.

The return of this flagship event to the northeastern state represents a strategic pivot in India's ambitious plan to transform the region into a unified, world-class tourism circuit. With infrastructure and connectivity strengthening, tourism seeing an upsurge, over INR 3,000 cr invested in 65 projects, the Ministry of Tourism is betting big on this year's event.

The discussion explored India’s outbound momentum and its expanding global footprint, while highlighting how destinations can differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market and how SATTE continues to serve as a potential bridge, helping destinations build visibility, trust, and tangible traction in the Indian market. The discussion was steered by Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson of the Tou

Whether it’s an airline opening new skies for India, a hotel extending trust through ethical practices, or a chauffeur upholding a service, tourism’s success depends on collective accountability. For India to rise as a global tourism force, its stakeholders must act as one orchestra, tuned to a common rhythm of an important thing called ‘trust’.

Brand India, once synonymous with the iconic "Incredible India" campaign, has somewhere lost its voice in a marketplace that no longer responds to traditional tourism marketing. As promotional budgets continue to shrink and visibility on global platforms blurs, India needs to transform its approach or risk becoming invisible in the world's most competitive tourism landscape.

Currently being held in Udaipur, this conference by MoT, aims to foster greater policy convergence in implementing the tourism transformation agenda, ensuring that every region contributes to building a globally competitive and sustainable tourism ecosystem for a Viksit Bharat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Navi Mumbai International Airport on October 8. NMIA, developed by AAHL and CIDCO, marks a landmark milestone in India’s aviation and infrastructure journey and will reshape the region’s travel and growth landscape.

International travel interest is expanding at a faster pace, with inbound searches by overseas travellers growing by 67% year-on-year during the holiday period.

This story takes a dive into this whirlpool, how the outbound dragon can be being steered, how emerging destinations are forming new strategies to woo the Indian traveller, and what the planners themselves see as the way forward.