While the Union Budget has introduced several forward-looking measures for tourism and travel, industry bodies believe the opportunity to accelerate India’s inbound momentum needs sharper focus. Adventure tourism, technology adoption, and skills development have found space in the Budget narrative — but international destination marketing remains a concern.
Reacting to the announcements, Rajiv Mehra, General Secretary, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH), said:
“We welcome the government’s initiatives to develop new adventure trail sites across states, the focus on upskilling tourist guides, the use of AI for enhancing tourist destinations, and the reduction of TCS on overseas travel. These are progressive steps for the sector. However, we were expecting a clear budgetary allocation for international tourism promotion, which appears to have been missed. Strengthening India’s visibility in global markets and measures for soft branding are critical to accelerating inbound tourism.
“Additionally, measures around improved air connectivity, ease of e-visa access, rationalisation of GST for tourism services, and a single-window approach for tourism infrastructure projects would have further strengthened the growth momentum. A focused push in these areas can significantly enhance India’s competitiveness as a global tourism destination.”
FAITH’s response reflects a broader industry sentiment that, alongside domestic growth and capacity building, sustained global marketing and regulatory easing will be key to positioning India more competitively in the international tourism landscape.
Rahul Bhadana is a digital editor at TravTalk with experience spanning multiple content niches, with a strong focus on travel trade journalism and digital publishing. A graduate of Delhi University, his work covers editorial writing, content strategy and platform-led storytelling, supporting TravTalk’s digital growth and industry engagement. A technology enthusiast, he enjoys films, poetry and exploring new ideas across media and culture.
