India’s homestay sector is emerging as a powerful driver of tourism, culture, and community-led growth. According to NITI Aayog’s report ‘Rethinking Homestays: Navigating Policy Pathways’, the market reached ₹4,722 crore in 2024, growing at 11% CAGR. Key trends reveal that 69% of Indian travellers prefer offbeat destinations and 72% actively support local communities, while digital nomads fuel long-term stays. Despite this promise, challenges, such as complex registration, fragmented policies, and limited incentives, persist. With streamlined single-window systems, tax relief, and capacity-building measures, the sector could unlock massive potential in women-led entrepreneurship, cultural revival, and sustainable tourism.

Speaking at the India Travel Awards 2025 in New Delhi, Ashwani Lohani, Director, Prime Ministers’ Museum & Library, said that sustainability is not optional — it is essential to preserve our destinations. “Events like these (ITA 2025) inspire tourism players, and their motivation fuels India’s tourism growth. If we handle tourism wisely, its potential can truly reach the skies.” He said India’s true strength lies in domestic tourism. “With our economy growing and our heritage so rich, we must first explore and appreciate our own diverse land — one nation, many worlds.”

Speaking at the 12th Convention of the Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA), Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, GoI, said, “Tourism already contributes 5-6% to India’s GDP, compared to nearly 10% globally. With our cultural richness and diversity, the sector can further boost the economy.” He called upon industry stakeholders to focus on promoting lesser-known destinations and enriching visitor experiences.

A new study by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, reveals that 1 in 3 aerospace executives believe artificial intelligence (AI) for real-time decision-making will be the biggest driver of change in aircraft manufacturing by 2035. The TCS Future-Ready Skie Study 2025 examines how aerospace companies are preparing for a digitally enabled and AI-powered future across manufacturing, maintenance, mobility, and supply chains. The report captures an industry in transition, with companies increasingly investing in intelligent, sustainable operations. It highlights how manufacturers expect human involvement to remain essential in 60% of their production processes, on average, reinforcing a hybrid future where human expertise and AI work together. While AI leads the charge, aerospace executives also identified digital twins and robotics as the key enablers for transformation. The study surveyed over 323 senior aerospace executives, including aerospace manufacturers, Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) companies and Manufacturing, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) providers, and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) companies across Europe and North America. With the aerospace market projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2030, and the MRO segment alone expected to reach $137 billion, the study offers a crucial pulse check on where the industry stands and a look into the future. It also aligns with key developments such as the anticipated certification of eVTOL aircraft and the increasing regulatory and operational complexity across global supply chains. Steve Lucas, Chairman and CEO, Boomi, said, “The Future-Ready Skies Study shows that the aerospace industry is at an inflection point where the promise of AI depends on getting the fundamentals right. Change only happens, however, at the speed of trust and that …

Chitra Gurnani Daga, CEO, Thrillophilia, bagged the DDP Face of the Future Award. Walking out of ISB with an idea to make the discovery of the world effortless, Daga co-founded Thrillophilia in 2011. Within a few years, she transformed the two-person startup into a global travel platform, trusted by more than 100 million users and serving a million travellers annually. Her leadership shone during the pandemic when she safeguarded jobs and accelerated tech adoption.

Anil Parashar, Executive Director, ITQ Technologies, has been honoured with the DDP Game Changer Award. With over four decades of leadership experience across Swissair, ACC and InterGlobe, he has consistently demonstrated financial acumen. The former Group CFO of InterGlobe guided the company through critical growth phases, handling capital restructuring, M&A, taxation and cross-border transactions. He also serves on the boards of IndiGo Airlines and Awfis Space Solutions.

Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, has been named DDP Trailblazer for 2025. Since joining in 2020, he has led the airline’s remarkable recovery post-Covid, driving growth and profitability. Under his leadership, Air India Express, operating over 500 daily flights across 58 airports with a fleet of 115 aircraft, successfully merged with AIX Connect in 2024. With over three decades of aviation experience, Singh has strengthened India’s aviation landscape.

Arjun Sharma, Chairman, Select Group, has joined the Gallery of Legends at the prestigious India Travel Awards. Son of the late Padma Shri Inder Sharma, he began his journey at SITA World Travel, later steering Kuoni and Le Passage to India into India’s top inbound tourism companies. Beyond tourism, he co-created Select CITYWALK, still known for the highest sales per sq ft in India. He continues to shape hospitality as Chief Vision Officer of Heritage Village Resorts & Spa.

The India Travel Awards 2025, held on September 9 at Le Méridien New Delhi, brought together leading voices from the travel and hospitality industry for an evening of recognition and celebration. The presence of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister, Tourism & Culture, graced the prestigious event. Honouring achievers who have driven growth, innovation, and excellence in India’s tourism sector, the event sets new benchmarks for the industry. Suman Billa, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, GoI, was the Honoured Guest at the event. A highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the India Travel Awards coffee table book. The event also saw the presence of eminent industry leaders, including Ashwani Lohani, Director, Prime Ministers’ Museum & Library, and Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India.

India’s MICE industry is expanding at a healthy rate of 8–10% annually, driven largely by domestic corporates and associations. However, the bigger challenge lies in attracting inbound MICE, which remains underdeveloped, according to Naveen Kundu, Founder, Tourism Futures.AI. He highlighted that nearly 26 million Indians travel abroad annually, with 25–30% linked to MICE. In comparison, India welcomes only 8–9 million foreign visitors across all categories. “Unless we grow inbound MICE, we miss out on significant foreign exchange and global positioning,” he said. Corporates currently split budgets between domestic and international destinations, with a strong preference for short-haul hubs like Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Dubai, citing better infrastructure and visa ease. Despite rising volumes, per person MICE spends have stagnated, limiting profitability for operators. Kundu stressed the urgent need for large-scale convention infrastructure in destinations like Goa and Kerala, stronger marketing through India’s overseas missions, and meaningful state-level action. While the G20 Summit showcased India’s capacity, he said, the momentum was not leveraged.