Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Thursday, 1 October 2026 said that greater private-sector investment, development of new destinations and improved visitor experiences will be critical to sustaining India's tourism growth in its next phase. Speaking at the ASSOCHAM National Tourism Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, Shekhawat positioned tourism as a key pillar of India's ambition to become a developed nation by 2047.

Minister's Vision for Tourism's Next Phase

Shekhawat said rising incomes and rapidly expanding connectivity — spanning highways, airports, railways and other transport networks — are expected to significantly boost travel demand in the coming years. He stressed that meeting this demand will require stepped-up investment in tourism infrastructure, hospitality, destination management and human resource development.

'The next phase of tourism growth will require us to look beyond increasing tourist numbers and focus on building new destinations, creating new experiences and improving destination management,' the minister said at the conclave.

ASSOCHAM-CBRE Report Highlights New Opportunities

A joint report by ASSOCHAM and real estate consultancy CBRE was released at the event, identifying growing opportunities across spiritual, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), wellness, cruise, rural and wildlife tourism segments. The report noted that improving connectivity through expressways, rail networks, ropeways and river-based circuits is opening up new tourism markets across the country. Technology and artificial intelligence also emerged as key themes during the panel discussions.

The report further revealed that organised hotel occupancy rose sharply to 64.1 per cent in 2025, up from 42 per cent in 2021 — a recovery that underscores the sector's post-pandemic momentum.

Industry Leaders Back Government-Private Collaboration

ASSOCHAM President Nirmal K. Minda said the tourism sector is evolving well beyond a leisure activity into a major source of investment, employment and regional development. He added that stronger government-industry collaboration will be essential to achieve the goal of a $1 trillion tourism economy.

Anshuman Magazine of CBRE noted that India holds a strong tourism proposition — anchored in its mix of heritage, spirituality, culture, wildlife, wellness, beaches and mountains. He said the immediate opportunity lies in strengthening infrastructure, destination management, cleanliness and safety, while leveraging technology and AI to deliver a more seamless travel experience.

Broader Context and What's Next

The conclave brought together policymakers and industry leaders to chart a roadmap for tourism's contribution to economic growth, jobs and regional development. This comes amid a broader government push to diversify India's economic growth engines beyond manufacturing and services. Notably, the $1 trillion tourism economy target mirrors the ambition seen in other sectoral missions, raising questions about the concrete policy and funding frameworks that will underpin it. Sectoral players and investors will now watch for follow-through in the Union Budget and state-level tourism policies.