PHDCCI-KPMG launch report on Heritage Tourism at its 15th IHTC
15th International Heritage Tourism Conclave
During the conclave, PHDCCI and Axis Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in the tourism and hospitality sector.
The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) organised the 15th International Heritage Tourism Conclave (IHTC) on July 24, 2026, at the Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad. The conclave was supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; State tourism boards including Telangana Tourism, Jharkhand Tourism, Madhya Pradesh Tourism, Rajasthan Tourism and Tamil Nadu Tourism, under the theme ख़याल विरासतका (Care for Heritage).
The conclave brought together senior government officials, policymakers, tourism boards, museum leaders, conservation experts, hospitality professionals, academicians, technology innovators and industry stakeholders to deliberate on practical strategies for preserving India’s cultural legacy while unlocking its economic and tourism potential. The conclave aimed to reposition heritage, especially culinary heritage, as a strategic pillar of India’s tourism economy.
The key highlight of the event was the launch of 3rd edition of the PHDCCI-KPMG Report on Heritage Tourism. The report presents strategic recommendations for strengthening India’s heritage tourism ecosystem through policy reforms, destination planning, investment facilitation, digital innovation, skill development and greater industry participation. The report highlights the growing importance of heritage tourism as a driver of employment generation, regional development and cultural preservation while outlining strategies to improve visitor experiences and unlock greater private sector investment.
During the conclave, PHDCCI and Axis Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in the tourism and hospitality sector. The MoU was signed by Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI and Shrikesh P., Regional Branch Banking Head, Axis Bank, with the objective of facilitating greater engagement with industry stakeholders and supporting initiatives that contribute to the growth of tourism and hospitality.
Venkatramana R. Hegde, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, said, “India has made significant progress in strengthening its global tourism competitiveness, supported by substantial investments in tourism infrastructure and heritage development. With more than 3,300 protected monuments and billions of domestic tourist visits annually, the opportunity before us is to improve destination infrastructure, visitor experiences and ease of doing business. Tourism deserves industry status and stronger partnerships between governments, industry and institutions such as PHDCCI will be essential for unlocking the sector’s full potential.”
“From UNESCO World Heritage Sites to community traditions and innovative partnerships, Madhya Pradesh is working to demonstrate how conservation can generate tourism opportunities while safeguarding cultural identity,” said Dr. Abhay Arvind Bedekar (IAS), Additional Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board.
L. Ranjeet Nayak (IFS), Director – Tourism, Government of Telangana, noted, “Our focus is on opening heritage assets for responsible private participation, strengthening destination development, leveraging Artificial Intelligence to enrich visitor experiences and creating employment by training young people as heritage interpreters and guides.”
Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI, highlighted, “India’s cultural heritage is one of its greatest strengths and has the potential to become a significant driver of sustainable economic development. The next phase of heritage tourism must combine conservation with transformation by leveraging digital technologies, innovation and stronger partnerships between government, industry and cultural institutions.”
“India’s monuments, museums, crafts, cuisine, performing arts and living traditions together create experiences that few countries can offer. By embracing emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, immersive storytelling and virtual reality while empowering local communities, we can preserve our legacy and simultaneously build a globally competitive heritage tourism ecosystem,” said Anil Parashar, Chair – Tourism & Hospitality Committee, PHDCCI.
Gautam Jain, Chair – Telangana Chapter, PHDCCI, emphasised, “Hyderabad is a living museum where every monument, market, craft and culinary tradition tells a story. Alongside its emergence as a global investment destination, Telangana has recognised tourism as an important engine of economic growth. By strengthening collaboration between government and industry and encouraging greater investment, Hyderabad has the potential to become one of Asia’s leading heritage tourism destinations.”
The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Rajan Sehgal, Co-Chair – Tourism & Hospitality Committee, PHDCCI, who reiterated that preserving both tangible and intangible heritage is fundamental to building a sustainable and globally competitive heritage tourism sector.
The conclave facilitated more than 30 structured B2B meetings between state tourism boards, hospitality companies, tour operators, travel businesses and cultural enterprises, to foster cross-sector collaboration and business development.
