Union Minister Shekhawat at ASSOCHAM Tourism Conclave

Addressing the ASSOCHAM National Tourism Conclave in New Delhi, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted that India's tourism sector has evolved beyond simple recreation to become a primary economic driver and key employment generator. Despite global geopolitical headwinds, domestic tourism expanded by 12.5% last year, recording over 428 crore domestic visits alongside 2.53 crore foreign tourist arrivals. Minister Shekhawat emphasized that enhancing destination management, elevating tourist experiences, and scaling capacity building for frontline personnel—such as guides, taxi drivers, and hospitality staff—are vital to translating the ethos of Atithi Devo Bhava into tangible, high-quality service delivery. To sustain this momentum, the government is developing 50 new tourist destinations to relieve congestion at traditional hotspots, broaden visitor experiences, and attract additional private capital into lesser-known regions. The conclave also marked the release of the joint ASSOCHAM-CBRE report, Reimagining Indian Tourism: Unlocking the Next Wave of Growth, which outlines how infrastructure connectivity and high-growth niches—including spiritual, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), wellness, cruise, rural, and wildlife tourism—are creating fresh investment channels. ASSOCHAM President Nirmal Kumar Minda underscored that the sector stands at a critical inflection point as India advances toward building a ₹94.97 lakh crore ($1 trillion) tourism economy.