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.


InterGlobe Foundation Launches Heritage Dialogue and Opens TCIH Exhibition

InterGlobe Foundation Launches Heritage Dialogue and Opens TCIH Exhibition

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on March 17, 2026

InterGlobe Foundation, the philanthropic arm of InterGlobe Enterprises, has introduced its first ‘Heritage Dialogue’ while also unveiling the third edition of its annual exhibition, ‘Tangible Conversations, Intangible Heritage’ (TCIH). The initiative marks an important step in encouraging conversations and collaborative efforts around cultural and heritage preservation in India.

The 10-day exhibition is being held at the Sunken Gardens in Sunder Nursery, with AKTC serving as the venue partner. Open from March 13 to March 22, 2026, between 11 am and 7 pm, the exhibition invites visitors to explore India’s living traditions through an engaging and immersive format.

This year’s theme, “Living Archives: Ritual, Performance and the City,” looks at heritage beyond traditional documentation. Instead, it presents heritage as something that continues to live through the rituals, practices, and everyday experiences of communities. By bringing together elements of tangible and intangible heritage, the exhibition highlights the Foundation’s ongoing work with communities to preserve India’s cultural legacy.

Visitors can experience the theme through a mix of photography, films, and installations that showcase three unique narratives. The first documents the Doli Yatra of Lord Rudranath in Uttarakhand, offering a closer look at the sacred pilgrimage and the devotion of the communities involved. The second focuses on Bhand Pather, the traditional folk theatre of Kashmir, presenting the history and cultural richness of this centuries-old performance tradition. The third narrative explores the idea of the city as a living archive through the ‘My City My Heritage’ initiative, showing how neighbourhood life and local communities shape the cultural identity of cities.

The exhibition also serves as the annual showcase of the InterGlobe Heritage Fellowships. This initiative supports individuals who research and document lesser-known aspects of India’s heritage. Since the fellowship began, nine fellows have been recognised for their contributions toward cultural preservation.

The day began with the ‘Heritage Dialogue’, organised by InterGlobe Foundation along with Sahapedia and IndiGoReach. The forum brought together leaders from corporate, cultural, and academic sectors to discuss ways to strengthen support for India’s built and intangible heritage. The platform is designed as a long-term initiative that encourages collaboration and investment in heritage preservation while connecting it to the broader goals of sustainable development and responsible corporate participation.

The evening continued with the formal opening of the ‘Tangible Conversations, Intangible Heritage’ exhibition at Sunder Nursery. Ms. Rohini Bhatia, Chairperson of InterGlobe Foundation, led the inauguration ceremony in the presence of cultural practitioners, institutional leaders, and heritage enthusiasts. The event concluded with a captivating Dastangoi performance at the historic Humayun’s Tomb Auditorium.

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Rohini Bhatia, Chairperson, InterGlobe Foundation, said, "The ‘Tangible Conversations, Intangible Heritage’ exhibition reflects our deep commitment to protecting India’s diverse cultural legacy. This year's theme beautifully illustrates how our heritage is a living, breathing entity sustained by communities and their practices. Through the InterGlobe Heritage Fellowships and the new Heritage Dialogue, we aim to foster a deeper appreciation for our vibrant traditions and inspire collective action required to ensure they thrive for generations to come.”

For more than a decade, InterGlobe Foundation has supported several important conservation and heritage initiatives through its partners. These include the conservation and cultural revival of Abdur Rahim Khan-I-Khanan’s mausoleum in Delhi, the cultural mapping and documentation of eighteen cities through the ‘My City My Heritage’ campaign, the restoration of the Indra Kund stepwell in Delwara, the tile restoration of Qutb Shah’s Mausoleum, and the InterGlobe Heritage Fellowships.


Calvin Klein Signs at Migsun Mall Ghaziabad and the Fashion Mix Just Got a Lot More Interesting

Calvin Klein Signs at Migsun Mall Ghaziabad and the Fashion Mix Just Got a Lot More Interesting

By Hariharan U

Published on March 17, 2026

Migsun Mall in Ghaziabad just added a name to its retail roster that signals exactly where the mall is headed. Calvin Klein has signed a leasing agreement for a 1,114 sq ft space at the mall, bringing one of the world's most recognised fashion brands to a retail destination that has been steadily building its premium appeal.

Calvin Klein's identity, clean aesthetics, modern sensibility, and a design philosophy that has built a global following, fits naturally into what Migsun Mall has been trying to create. The brand speaks directly to urban consumers who value minimalism, quality, and globally relevant fashion, which is exactly the kind of audience the mall is positioning itself to attract.

Rajeev Srivastava, Leasing Head at Migsun Group, put the signing in context. "Retail today is as much about brand alignment as it is about physical space. Calvin Klein represents a global design philosophy that speaks to modern consumers, and we're pleased to have the brand join Migsun Mall. Our approach has been to create a retail ecosystem that feels relevant, uncluttered and experience-oriented rather than purely transactional. Each new signing is evaluated not just on brand strength, but on how well it contributes to the overall shopping journey. Calvin Klein adds a distinct, contemporary dimension to our fashion mix and strengthens the mall's positioning as a destination for refined, modern retail."

The signing also reflects a broader trend playing out across India's organised retail sector. Brands are becoming increasingly selective about the locations they choose, favouring destinations that offer strong footfall potential, a cohesive brand environment, and a shopping experience that feels curated rather than crowded. Migsun Mall's approach of evaluating brands not just on name recognition but on how well they contribute to the overall experience speaks to this shift.

For Ghaziabad, the arrival of Calvin Klein at Migsun Mall is a notable moment, adding a brand with genuine global weight to a retail market that continues to grow in both scale and ambition.


Rajnigandha Achievers Win Aditya Birla Memorial Polo Cup Finals 2026 at Jaipur Polo Ground

Rajnigandha Achievers Win Aditya Birla Memorial Polo Cup Finals 2026 at Jaipur Polo Ground

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on March 17, 2026

The Aditya Birla Memorial Polo Cup Finals 2026 concluded on an exciting note at the Jaipur Polo Ground, with Rajnigandha Achievers emerging as the champions after a strong performance against Thunderbolts.

The prestigious event was attended by Hon'ble Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who joined as the Chief Guest. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson of Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, was also present at the finals, adding to the significance of the occasion.

Several notable dignitaries attended the event, including Himanshu Kapania, Managing Director of Grasim Industries; Sanjay Seth, Member of Rajya Sabha; Naveen Jindal, Member of the Lok Sabha and Chairman of Jindal Steel, who also serves as the Captain of the Jindal Panther Polo Team; and Askaran K. Agarwala, Group Advisor, Birla Group Trusts & Special Community Projects.

The final match saw an engaging contest between Thunderbolts and Rajnigandha Achievers. The Thunderbolts team featured Sipahi Mukesh Gujar, Lt Col Vishal Chauhan, Major Mritunjay Chauhan (MS Chauhan), and Simran Singh Shergil. Rajnigandha Achievers fielded Aryaman Singh, a 14-year-old player with 19 tournament wins, along with Syed Shamsheer Ali, Dhruv Pal Godara, and Captain Daniel.

The match was played over four chukkas of 7.5 minutes each and was officiated by professional umpires from the Kingdom. Demonstrating consistent teamwork and control throughout the game, Rajnigandha Achievers secured a convincing 9–5 victory to lift the Aditya Birla Polo Cup 2026 title.

The final match not only showcased competitive polo but also highlighted the sport’s growing prominence in India, bringing together players, dignitaries, and enthusiasts for a memorable sporting evening at the Jaipur Polo Ground.

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