Destination DC welcomed 13 top Indian travel trade partners for their first-ever Reverse India Sales Mission, held in Washington, DC from August 23 to August 28. Over six days, the Indian trade professionals engaged in programs that created opportunities for business development and cultural immersion. Seventeen local partners, including hotels, museums, restaurants, city tours and experiences, participated in one-on-one meetings and roundtable discussions with the trade. The agents also explored some of DC’s best offerings, including the tour of the iconic National Mall with Capitol Express Tours, Smithsonian museums, The People’s House: A White House Experience, and more. The group was in town just in time for the DC Jazz Festival and enjoyed a private jazz dinner with live music at the rooftop of the Kimpton Banneker Hotel. The greatest highlight of this trip was the Destination DC’s Marketing Outlook Meeting held at Capital Turnaround—a unique meeting space inside Navy Yard’s historic streetcar barn. The DDC team announced the latest visitation data, industry updates and travel forecasts for 2026 in this annual meeting. The attendees enjoyed breakfast and networking with 500+ industry leaders and professionals, followed by a presentation by Destination DC’s President & CEO, Elliott L. Ferguson, II, Didio Pequeno, Director of Hospitality Market Analytics at CoStar Group; and Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics. Reflecting on the success of the mission, Ferguson said, “It was a pleasure hosting the Indian travel trade in Washington, DC, where they were able to experience the District’s unique and diverse cultural and culinary offerings. The growth of visitation numbers from India has been exciting for us, and the market has been, and continues to be, a top focus globally.”

As per MakeMyTrip’s latest findings, pilgrimage travel trends highlight broad-based momentum with 34 destinations recording double-digit growth and 15 destinations growing by over 25%. The strong growth in pilgrimage demand is also driving an aggressive expansion of accommodation supply across key destinations. The breadth of growth across pilgrimage destinations can be seen in centres such as Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Puri (Odisha), Amritsar (Punjab) and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), which continue to grow.

For the first time, the Directorate of Tourism, Uttar Pradesh, has invited proposals from investors to develop and operate farm stay accommodations across the state. Jaiveer Singh, Tourism Minister, UP, said that the state is taking rural tourism to the next level with a vision that is entirely new. “This initiative is not just about creating farm accommodations — it is about turning our villages into vibrant centres of culture, livelihood, and learning. Tourists today are eager to escape concrete jungles and experience authentic farm life — from milking cows at dawn to sharing meals in rural kitchens. We are ready to provide that warmth, simplicity, and authenticity,” he said.

Sharing his views on the revised GST, Amitabh Kant, former G20 Sherpa and ex-CEO, NITI Aayog, says, “India needs to be ahead of the curve in cutting edge areas of sustainable growth. This will enable tech innovation.” He agrees that India, the fourth-largest economy, can’t wait till 2027 for CAFE-III. If Net Zero and Viksit Bharat 2047 are the goal, stricter fuel-efficiency norms must be achieved sooner.

Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & Director General, Ministry of Tourism, GoI, delivering an inspiring keynote address at the India Travel Awards 2025, highlighted tourism’s vital role in national development and India’s global positioning as a leading travel destination. “India’s tourism growth is inevitable — the true challenge lies in how we grow. To achieve our vision of becoming a $3 trillion tourism economy by 2047, we must focus not just on numbers, but on excellence and quality that make India a proud global service leader,” he said.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister, Tourism and Culture, said, “We must focus on private sector–led tourism hub development and a Product-Linked Incentive (PLI)-based Destination Maturity model. These insights will guide the final design and rollout of these schemes, strengthening our shared vision of sustainable and world-class tourism.” He was addressing a gathering at a day-long national consultation, convened by Ministry of Tourism with participation from states and UTs, industry leaders and investors. Nearly 200 stakeholders came together to chart the roadmap for developing destinations of global standards.

Speaking at the India Travel Awards 2025, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister, Tourism & Culture, said, “Tourism is not just about travel; it is a force for inclusive growth, sustainability, and cultural exchange. With public-private partnership and innovation, India can emerge as a global model where diversity, heritage, and modernity converge.” Shekhawat said the government has encouraged states to develop at least one destination to global standards, creating new circuits and spreading benefits across the nation. “Tourism today must be sustainable and responsible, as they are not a choice but the foundation of tomorrow’s tourism. India’s commitment to mission life ensures that travel becomes a force for protecting the environment, conserving heritage, wildlife, and empowering communities.”  

RX, organiser of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), World Travel Market (WTM), and WTM events in Cape Town and Sao Paulo, has announced the launch of WTM Spotlight in Saudi Arabia. The inaugural event is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 29 September to 1 October 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Convention Centre (RFECC). WTM Spotlight is a new brand and launch within the WTM portfolio, designed to focus on a specific market and create invaluable opportunities for regional and international exhibitors and visitors. Participants can engage in a mix of inbound and outbound conversations, forging meaningful connections with industry leaders and travel professionals while immersing themselves in the destination’s culture. Commenting on the announcement, Vasyl Zhygalo, Managing Director, Middle East and Emerging Markets, RX, said: “WTM Spotlight in Saudi Arabia represents an exciting new chapter for the WTM portfolio. By creating events that delve deeper into a specific market, we offer regional and international stakeholders, as well as travel professionals, an unparalleled opportunity to build essential relationships, gain richer insights, uncover future travel trends and discover innovative new ways to connect the world. Ultimately, these shared experiences and cultural insights lay the foundation for long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships. “Saudi Arabia is the perfect location to launch this concept – its tourism sector is one of the most ambitious and fastest-growing in the world, and WTM Spotlight will play a pivotal role in supporting its development as a destination by connecting the world to Saudi, and Saudi to the world.” Saudi Arabia has undergone a significant transformation in tourism under Vision 2030, demonstrating the Kingdom’s ambitious plan to diversify its economy and position itself as a …

Dharmesh Advani, National General Secretary, ENTERPRISING TRAVEL AGENTS ASSOCIATION, says that the tourism industry is one of the largest contributors to employment and foreign exchange in India, but continues to be burdened with a high GST rate structure. “Our association’s key ask is for the government to rationalize GST on tourism-related services — particularly on hotels, airfares, and packaged tours — to make Indian tourism more competitive with other global destinations. A lower and uniform GST slab will not only encourage domestic travel but also attract more international tourists by making India a value-driven destination. The government should also consider input tax credit benefits across the tourism supply chain, which are currently restricted, leading to cost escalations. To help tourism flourish, we urge policymakers to adopt a long-term, sector-specific view of GST that acknowledges tourism as a driver of inclusive growth. Reducing GST and simplifying compliance will stimulate higher volumes of travel, resulting in greater tax collections overall and significant job creation.”    

Sanjeev Mehra, President, Skål International India, shares his perspective on the GST regime and says, “The proposed changes to GST, while positive, will not create a significant impact on the domestic and international tourism markets unless a more decisive step is taken. What our industry truly needs is one simplified GST slab for hospitality. This will bring India on par with other Asian destinations and make us more competitive globally.” He adds that post-pandemic, the domestic tourism market has grown manifold, showing an upward trend not only in travel by Indian citizens but also in attracting international guests. “A single GST slab will provide a much-needed boost to both inbound and domestic tourism, ensuring sustainable growth for the entire industry. Since travel and tourism directly contribute to the nation’s economic growth and create opportunities across various sectors, it is critical that the government prioritizes this reform. Moving towards a single GST structure for hospitality at the earliest will accelerate India’s journey towards becoming one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. The current proposals are a step in the right direction, but we must continue working towards this long-term goal for the benefit of the industry and the country,” Mehra adds.