TravTalk India Online Magazine
From next-generation airports and luxury trains to expanded hotel footprints and immersive heritage experiences, the past year has seen India evolve into a destination of global significance where travellers finds a reason to rediscover Incredible India.
Surbhi Sharma
In 2025, India’s aviation sector has taken significant strides to attract inbound tourism. For instance, IndiGo’s partnerships with Air France KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines, enabled the airline to sell seats under its brand on routes from India to Europe and North America. Similarly, the aviation sector expanded with the launch of new airlines and increased regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has incorporated 106 tourism-specific routes and plans regional connectivity to 120 new destinations. These developments expand the ‘gateway’ capacity of India and make inbound access easier for travellers around the world.
Marking a major milestone in India’s aviation infrastructure, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Phase One of the Navi Mumbai International Airport in October. Built at a cost of `19,650 crore, the airport is expected to begin commercial operations by December this year.
Rail & alternative connectivity infra
From a rail tourism perspective, 2025 has seen landmark projects. The Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) rail line, linking the Kashmir Valley to the Indian mainland, was inaugurated in June, featuring the world-highest arch railway bridge over the Chenab River and drastically reducing travel times. Also, the rapid-regional rail system extension from Meerut to Alwar via the Rapid Regional Transit System corridor was approved, enhancing connectivity across Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Hospitality & destination upgrades
On the hospitality front, global hotel chains are expanding aggressively into India’s smaller cities. For instance, IHCL, Hilton and Marriott are planning multi-fold expansions in India. IHCL opened 26 hotels during the financial year, with several new properties in pipeline. Simultaneously, the government has placed on the infrastructure list hotels in 50 newly identified tourist destinations, which will allow easier financing for hotel expansion.
Attractions & experiential offerings
India’s tourism appeal has also been boosted by upgraded attractions and tourism experiences. One of the highlights is the move by the Centre and states to promote heritage, culture, and pilgrimage circuits with upgraded infrastructure under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASHAD schemes.
Strategic govt & industry initiatives
The revamped digital platform ‘Incredible India Digital Platform’ is often cited as a tool for personalised travel-planning.
