From ‘Incredible’ to ‘Inevitable’ India

Tourism’s power extends beyond economics — it shapes perceptions, fuels jobs and builds India’s soft power. At the FAITH Conclave 2025, leaders rallied around unity and resilience, envisioning a $3 trillion economy and an ‘Invincible India’ where travel drives growth and elevates the nation globally. Puneet Chhatwal, Chairman, FAITH & MD and CEO, IHCL, shares more.

Janice Alyosius

For Puneet Chhatwal, Chairman, FAITH and MD and CEO, IHCL, the recently concluded FAITH Conclave was more than just another industry gathering. “Each conclave is a stepping stone towards something bigger and larger,” he said, stressing the significance of uniting 10 major associations from across tourism under one roof.

According to Chhatwal, the conclave’s biggest strength lay in aligning these associations on three to five common themes, while also drawing the attention of ministries beyond tourism. “Getting the attention of External Affairs, Defence (ministries) and many others is very fortunate and a blessing for this conclave. I remain extremely optimistic that conclaves like this, especially this one with FAITH, will carve out a new future for tourism, hospitality and aviation in India.”

Chhatwal reflected on how the sector’s priorities had shifted in the past nine months, shaped by unforeseen global and domestic challenges. “When we first started, the needs and wants of the sector were very different. Since then, we have had the unfortunate incident on 22 April, followed by Operation Sindoor, an airline accident and the Middle East conflict. All this is not really helpful for tourism.”

Despite these headwinds, he said, India’s strength lies in resilience. “What differentiates India and Indians from the rest of the world is an invincible spirit. That is how the theme ‘Invincible India’ came in. It is the journey of Incredible India into Inevitable India that is now beginning to unfold.”

According to Chhatwal, the real work begins after the conference. With 10 organisations under the FAITH umbrella, the focus is now on aligning their inputs, integrating external feedback from stakeholders, such as the External Affairs Minister, airline CEOs and the Deputy Chief of Army Staff, and presenting a consolidated roadmap to policymakers.
“The starting point is not the follow-up — it is the formulation of the ask. What can we do, how can we contribute, and what all needs to get done to get to where we want to go.”