Report launched on July 8 by Suman Billa IAS, Additional Secretary & DG, Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, at a special evening in New Delhi.

The launch took place alongside a day-long workshop focusing on four key themes aimed at improving India's tourism ecosystem. Discussions centred around single-window clearances, addressing visa challenges, sustainable development, digitised approvals and streamlined project timelines, among others.

Industry leaders also estimated that the sector’s wider multiplier effect pushes its overall economic impact beyond INR 3 lakh crore. Notably, the 15th IEIA Open Seminar 2026 was held in Greater Noida from May 8-9, under the theme ‘When the Right Dots Meet, Industry Moves.’

With 2,200 exhibitors, over 40,000 industry professionals, 200 international buyers, notable participation from states, international boards, tech companies, hotels & more, SATTE 2026 turned Yashobhoomi yet again into the epicentre of the global travel trade. Buoyed by a great industry response, SATTE also announced the next edition from January 19–21, 2027.

The forum, organised in New Delhi, featured in-depth discussions that helped states and the industry stakeholders understand global best practices and re-examine their own strategies with a fresh, forward-looking perspective.

At an IEIA Roundtable in Delhi, government and industry leaders acknowledged that uneven pricing practices and weak destination-level planning are now bigger barriers than infrastructure itself.

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.

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.

Additionally, the Ministry released the 66th edition of the India Tourism Data Compendium, marking record international and domestic arrivals, employment generation, and economic contributions. India now ranks 20th globally in international tourist arrivals and continues strengthening its tourism infrastructure. These outcomes were a part of Ministry’s celebration of World Tourism Day 2025.