The Ministry of Tourism organized a high-level industry consultation on June 22, 2026, in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The meeting brought together leading industry associations including FAITH, ASSOCHAM, PHDCCI, WTTCII, TGFI, ABTO, CII, IAAPI, and FICCI to deliberate on reforms required to unlock India's tourism growth potential.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasized the government's commitment to reforms and making India a globally competitive tourism destination, highlighting the importance of continuous engagement with industry stakeholders to identify regulatory bottlenecks. Secretary Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar proposed significant simplification of the hotel classification system by shifting from inspection-based assessment to self-declaration-based assessment, reducing checklist items and mandatory certification requirements in a time-bound manner to reduce regulatory burdens.
Participants discussed opportunities for rationalization of visa processes and taxation frameworks, facilitation of investments through simplified clearances, defining timelines for licenses, and onboarding line Ministries and States/UTs for speedy implementation of reforms. The concept of an Entity Locker for the tourism and hospitality sector was proposed to facilitate seamless sharing and verification of documents, reduce paperwork, and enhance ease of compliance.
Special attention was given to emerging growth segments including live events, experiential tourism, amusement parks, and legitimizing homestays as a sub-sector, with industry representatives highlighting their significant potential for employment generation and economic stimulation. The Ministry welcomed suggestions and reaffirmed its commitment to working with industry associations, State Governments, and other stakeholders to advance reforms that enhance ease of doing business and support long-term sector growth.