Budget 2026 Delivers Strong Push to Tourism and Hospitality Sector

Budget 2026 Delivers Strong Push to Tourism and Hospitality Sector

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on February 1, 2026

The Budget 2026-27 has emerged as a significant boost for India’s tourism and hospitality sector, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighting tourism as a key driver of employment generation and foreign exchange earnings. The budget outlines a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, affordability, sustainability, and skill development across the sector.

Presenting the budget in Parliament, Sitharaman announced that 15 archaeological sites across the country will be developed into vibrant and experiential cultural destinations. These sites will feature curated walkways, allowing the public to explore excavated landscapes while enhancing cultural tourism experiences.

A major highlight of the budget is the reduction in Tax Collected at Source on international tour programmes. The TCS has been brought down from the existing 5% and 20% rates to a flat 2%, with no minimum amount condition, making international travel more affordable for Indian travellers.

The government also announced the creation of five tourism hubs across the Purvodaya states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. As part of this initiative, provisions will be made for 4,000 e-buses to improve connectivity and promote sustainable transportation.

To strengthen tourism education and industry collaboration, Sitharaman proposed the establishment of a National Institute of Hospitality by upgrading the existing National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology. The institute will act as a bridge between academia, industry, and government. In addition, a pilot scheme will be launched to train tourist guides across major tourism hubs in India.

Sustainable and nature-based tourism also received focused attention in the budget. Ecologically sustainable mountain trails will be developed in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats, and Pothigai Malai in the Western Ghats. Bird tourism development projects will also be initiated in Pazhaverkadu in Tamil Nadu. Further, turtle trails will be created along key nesting sites in Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala.

Spiritual tourism is set to gain momentum under Budget 2026, with announcements for state-of-the-art infrastructure development, including meditation centres and enhanced facilities at spiritual destinations across the country.

The budget also places strong emphasis on connectivity and mobility. Seven high-speed rail corridors will be developed between key city pairs, including Mumbai–Pune, Hyderabad–Pune, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Hyderabad–Chennai, Chennai–Bengaluru, Delhi–Varanasi, and Varanasi–Siliguri. These corridors are envisioned as growth connectors supporting environmentally sustainable passenger transport.

In a move to promote medical and wellness tourism, the government announced the development of five new regional medical hubs in partnership with private players. A hub for medical value tourism will also be established to attract international patients. Supporting infrastructure such as a National Destination Knowledge Grid will be introduced to manage and share information related to tourist destinations.

Further enhancing travel experiences, 20 new national waterways will be developed over the next five years to improve water transport efficiency. Incentives will be provided for seaplane operations through a Seaplane VGF scheme, making water-based connectivity more viable.

Adding further support to allied sectors, Sitharaman announced that no import tax will be collected on fish captured in international waters. This move is expected to benefit both the fisheries and hospitality sectors by supporting supply chains and cost efficiency.

With these wide-ranging measures, Budget 2026 sets the stage for a new wave of growth in tourism and hospitality, promising enhanced guest experiences, stronger infrastructure, and long-term benefits for hotels, tourism operators, and travellers alike.


FitsAir Highlights Ahmedabad Colombo Connectivity Through Travel Trade Webinar

FitsAir Highlights Ahmedabad Colombo Connectivity Through Travel Trade Webinar

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 26, 2026

FitsAir and Red Dot Representations recently brought the travel trade closer to Sri Lanka through an exclusive webinar focused on the airline’s new direct connectivity between Ahmedabad and Colombo.

Held on 21st August 2026, the webinar introduced travel partners to the new Ahmedabad–Colombo route and highlighted how the direct connection can make Sri Lanka easier to access for travellers from Gujarat, without the need for layovers.

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The session also explored Sri Lanka’s wider tourism offerings and its appeal across different traveller segments, including families, honeymooners and MICE groups. The destination’s beaches, cultural attractions, wildlife, hospitality and local experiences were among the key highlights.

The webinar went beyond the traditional beach holiday experience, showcasing the different ways Indian travellers can explore Sri Lanka. From spending time along its tropical coastline and discovering its cultural heritage to experiencing its wildlife, local cuisine and hospitality, the session presented the island as a destination with varied experiences.

FitsAir currently operates the Ahmedabad–Colombo service three times a week, giving travellers from Gujarat a more convenient direct option for reaching Sri Lanka. The improved connectivity is expected to support leisure travel, experiential holidays, MICE and destination celebrations, while strengthening Sri Lanka’s position as an accessible short-haul international destination for the Gujarat market.


IIHM Launches First Egg Bank in India to Support Underprivileged Communities

IIHM Launches First Egg Bank in India to Support Underprivileged Communities

By Hariharan U

Published on August 26, 2026

The International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) has launched its first Egg Bank in India in Bengaluru, introducing a sustained student-led initiative aimed at providing nutritional support to underprivileged and vulnerable communities.

As part of the launch, IIHM's students, known as Food Soldiers, distributed more than 700 eggs to visually impaired children at Sri Rakum School for the Blind. The initiative has been undertaken in association with the Valmiki Foundation and is designed to move beyond one-time food donations by creating an ongoing nutrition programme.

The IIHM Egg Bank will initially support identified beneficiary institutions in Bengaluru, with plans to progressively extend the programme to old-age homes, orphanages and other organisations serving underprivileged communities. The initiative will subsequently be expanded across IIHM campuses in India, with individual campuses identifying beneficiaries in their respective communities.

Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Suborno Bose, Founder & Chairman, IIHM, said, "As a leading hospitality education institution, our responsibility goes beyond creating successful professionals. Hospitality is fundamentally about caring for people. Through the IIHM Egg Bank, our Food Soldiers will help address nutritional deficiencies through meaningful action. We want our students to see CSR not as a one-time activity, but as a sustained responsibility towards the underprivileged."

Ms. Sanchari Chowdhury, Director, IIHM Bengaluru & Head-South Operations, said the initiative encourages students to contribute beyond the classroom and become active participants in community service. She described “One Child, One Egg, One Smile” as a reflection of IIHM's belief in sustained and empathetic community engagement.

The programme has been designed around regular distribution rather than a single donation drive. Since eggs are perishable, IIHM's Food Soldiers will undertake distributions twice every month, providing the required quantity for each fortnight. This approach is intended to ensure continuity while giving students an opportunity to engage directly with the communities they support.

The initiative also aligns with IIHM's broader commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 – Zero Hunger. Through its Food Soldiers programme, the institute has previously engaged students in activities focused on providing food and essential support to communities in need.

Dr. Valmiki Hari Kishan, Founder of the Egg Bank Project and Co-Founder & Project Director, Valmiki Foundation, said the Bengaluru initiative marks the 177th Egg Bank overall and the first under IIHM. He noted that the programme's expansion across IIHM campuses could help extend nutritional support to vulnerable communities in multiple cities.

The launch was attended by Mr. P. K. Mohan Kumar, Independent Director, Prestige Hospitality Ventures Limited, as Chief Guest. Speaking at the event, he highlighted the role of initiatives such as the Egg Bank in extending the spirit of hospitality into wider community service.

By combining the Valmiki Foundation's experience with IIHM's institutional network and student participation, the initiative aims to create a sustained model for nutritional support. Beginning with visually impaired children at Sri Rakum School for the Blind, the programme is expected to reach more underserved communities across Bengaluru and, subsequently, other cities through IIHM's campus network.


Eros Hotel New Delhi Strengthens Water Conservation Efforts During World Water Week

Eros Hotel New Delhi Strengthens Water Conservation Efforts During World Water Week

By Hariharan U

Published on August 25, 2026

Eros Hotel New Delhi is reinforcing its commitment to responsible water management during World Water Week 2026 by highlighting a range of initiatives focused on reducing water consumption, promoting mindful usage and recycling wastewater across its operations.

Organised annually by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), World Water Week brings global attention to water-related challenges and the importance of responsible water management. The 2026 edition is being held from 23 to 27 August.

At Eros Hotel New Delhi, water conservation has been integrated across guest areas, kitchens, back-of-house operations and public facilities through a combination of water-efficient infrastructure and awareness initiatives.

The hotel has installed water-saving aerators across taps in guest room washrooms, kitchens and back-of-house areas to regulate water flow and improve consumption efficiency. Public washrooms feature sensor-operated taps, helping reduce unnecessary water usage, while guest rooms are equipped with dual-flush WC cisterns that allow guests to use water according to requirements.

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The hotel's sustainability approach also focuses on creating greater awareness among guests and employees. Water conservation tent cards placed in guest rooms encourage visitors to adopt mindful water-use practices during their stay. Awareness posters across kitchens and back-of-house areas further reinforce responsible water consumption among employees and operational teams.

A key element of Eros Hotel New Delhi's water management strategy is the 100% recycling of wastewater. Treated recycled water is utilised for horticulture and cooling towers, reducing the hotel's dependence on fresh water for selected operational requirements while ensuring wastewater is put to productive use.

By combining water-efficient fixtures, wastewater recycling and awareness programmes, Eros Hotel New Delhi continues to integrate resource-conscious practices into its daily operations.

The initiatives reflect the hotel's broader approach to making water conservation a shared responsibility among guests, employees and operational teams while strengthening its ongoing sustainability efforts.

About Eros Hotel New Delhi:

Eros Hotel New Delhi is a luxury hotel located in the heart of the city, offering accommodation, dining and hospitality facilities for leisure and business travellers.

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