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By Hariharan U
Published on January 30, 2026
As the Union Budget 2026 approaches, India’s travel and hospitality sector is looking to policy support to consolidate the strong demand witnessed across domestic and international travel segments. While occupancies and travel intent remain healthy, industry leaders believe structural reforms are essential to ensure long-term, quality-led growth and global competitiveness.
The hospitality sector continues to benefit from experiential travel, destination weddings and wellness-led stays. However, industry stakeholders point out that high capital costs and limited access to long-term financing continue to put pressure on returns. Granting infrastructure status, offering tax incentives on capital expenditure and improving access to institutional credit are widely seen as critical steps to enable sustainable expansion across destinations.
Digital travel platforms and alternative accommodation providers are also playing an increasingly important role in shaping India’s tourism ecosystem. With demand rising for hotels, homestays and BnBs across Tier-II and Tier-III cities, the industry has reiterated the need for GST rationalisation, especially in the mid-scale segment, to keep travel affordable and ensure price consistency. Support for integrated digital booking platforms and skill development across tourism services is expected to improve transparency and enhance the overall traveller experience.
Outbound travel remains a key focus area ahead of the Budget, particularly as luxury and experiential travel from India gains momentum. Louis D’Souza, Managing Partner, Tamarind Global, says, “As luxury and experiential travel from India continues to gain momentum, the Union Budget can play a pivotal role in shaping both outbound and inbound travel sentiment. On the outbound side, high-spending Indian travellers are increasingly investing in curated, design-led experiences, but policies around TCS and forex costs continue to influence booking timelines and destination choices. Easing these financial frictions would boost travel confidence and encourage travellers to upgrade experiences rather than compromise on quality.”
He further adds, “Equally important is the opportunity to strengthen India's inbound tourism narrative. With global travellers seeking authentic, immersive journeys, India's rich cultural heritage, wellness offerings, luxury hospitality, and emerging experiential circuits are uniquely positioned to attract high-value inbound travellers. Strategic budgetary support for destination marketing, infrastructure upgrades, simplified visa processes, and enhanced connectivity can significantly elevate India's appeal as a premium travel destination.”
Long-haul leisure and island destinations are particularly sensitive to outbound travel costs. Leena Jhugroo, Managing Director, Travel Lounge Leisure & Tours Ltd., notes, “As India's outbound travel market matures, the Union Budget presents an opportunity to unlock sustained long-haul leisure growth. A key expectation from the industry is rationalisation of TCS on overseas tour packages and forex spends, which continues to impact travel affordability and decision-making for Indian consumers.”
She adds, “For island destinations like Mauritius, which are positioned around romance, luxury, wellness, and MICE, easing outbound travel costs would significantly boost bookings. Improved forex policies and incentives for international travel-linked services would further encourage longer stays and higher spends.”
Neighbouring destinations are also closely watching India’s policy direction. Highlighting Sri Lanka’s strong reliance on Indian travellers, Charith DeAlwis, CEO, Unique Lanka Travels, says, “India continues to be one of the most important and consistent source markets for Sri Lanka, driven by strong cultural ties, short travel time, and a growing appetite for nearby international destinations.”
He further states, “As the travel ecosystem evolves, policies that enhance ease of travel, cost transparency, and regional connectivity can play a meaningful role in encouraging more frequent visits and longer stays.”
Within the premium segment, luxury travel operators stress the importance of addressing cost inefficiencies to sustain aspirational demand. Mir Musa Baghirzade, Sales Director, Turalux, says, “The Union Budget is closely watched by the luxury travel sector, as policy decisions directly influence discretionary spending and travel intent. Indian travellers today are aspirational, well-informed, and willing to invest in unique global experiences, but cost inefficiencies, such as high TCS on outbound travel can act as friction points.”
He adds, “Additionally, continued emphasis on digital payments, ease of global banking, and improved forex accessibility would enhance the overall booking experience. Luxury travel is no longer limited to leisure alone; it now extends to wellness retreats, destination celebrations, and immersive experiential escapes.”
Across segments, industry leaders have also called for stronger focus on manpower development, improved aviation connectivity and expansion of air networks to unlock new travel corridors. As the sector enters 2026 with cautious optimism, stakeholders agree that a forward-looking Budget balancing domestic, outbound and inbound tourism priorities could play a defining role in shaping India’s travel growth story
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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on May 30, 2026
Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and financial year ended March 31, 2026, reporting steady operational growth supported by strong occupancy levels and continued expansion across key hospitality markets.
The company reported revenue from operations of INR 183.70 crore for Q4 FY26, compared to INR 177.32 crore during the same quarter last year. Operating EBITDA for the quarter stood at INR 52.99 crore, while profit after tax (PAT) was reported at INR 11.88 crore.
ASPHL recorded occupancy levels of 90 per cent during the quarter, reflecting sustained demand across both business and leisure travel segments and reinforcing the company’s position within India’s hospitality sector.
For the full financial year FY26, the company crossed the INR 700 crore annual revenue milestone for the first time, reporting revenue from operations of INR 707.28 crore. Annual PAT for the year stood at INR 65.72 crore.
The company stated that growth during FY26 was supported by expansion into Tier II and Tier III cities along with strategic acquisitions aimed at strengthening its presence in high-potential hospitality destinations.
During the financial year, ASPHL acquired control of Zillion Hotels and Resorts Private Limited, Fisherman’s Grove Resorts Private Limited, and Thali Hotels and Destinations Private Limited. These acquisitions are expected to further strengthen the company’s hospitality presence across Mumbai and Kerala.
ASPHL also reaffirmed its long-term growth plans and said it remains on track to more than double its room inventory to 6,653 keys over the next five years.
The company’s bakery and confectionery brand, Flurys, also continued its expansion during FY26. The brand currently operates 110 outlets and recorded a 29 per cent year-on-year revenue growth during the financial year, supported by new store additions and strong performance across existing outlets.
Commenting on the results, Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, said FY26 marked a significant milestone as the company crossed INR 700 crore in annual revenue for the first time. He added that Q4 reflected resilient operational performance with continued leadership in occupancy and RevPAR metrics.
Dewan further noted that the sale of serviced apartments at EM Bypass, Kolkata, contributed positively to cash flow during the year. He added that the company remains focused on long-term value creation through portfolio expansion, guest-centric experiences, operational efficiency, and margin improvement.
The company also highlighted that recent global recognition received by Ran Baas The Palace, Patiala and The Lotus Palace, Chettinad further strengthens its positioning as a design-led and experience-driven hospitality group.
Published on May 25, 2026
India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), the public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has reported a strong financial performance for FY 2025–26 with a 14 percent increase in profit before tax (PBT) compared to the previous financial year.
The corporation also announced a dividend payout of Rs 22.02 crore to the Government of India, reflecting continued operational strength and improved financial performance despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties impacting the global hospitality and tourism sector.
According to the company, the growth was driven by enhanced operational efficiencies, strategic initiatives across business verticals, optimal resource allocation, and continued focus on customer-centric service delivery.
Commenting on the performance, Mugdha Sinha said the results reflect ITDC’s ongoing efforts towards strengthening service standards while building on the organisation’s long-standing legacy and institutional trust.
During the financial year, ITDC also introduced three operational manuals focused on procurement of goods and services, sound and light shows, and general clauses aimed at improving governance, standardisation, and transparency across institutional processes.
The corporation further highlighted its increasing focus on technology-enabled transformation through the adoption of AI-based solutions to improve operational agility, customer experience, and business planning capabilities.
FY26 also marked two major milestones for the organisation as ITDC celebrated 60 years of its legacy alongside 70 years of The Ashok, one of India’s most iconic hospitality properties.
The company stated that its future strategy will continue to focus on operational excellence, digital transformation, sustainability, and long-term value creation while strengthening its contribution to India’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem.
The financial performance comes at a time when India’s hospitality and tourism sector continues to navigate evolving global market conditions, changing travel patterns, and increased focus on technology-led efficiencies across public and private sector enterprises.
Quick commerce platform Zepto is reportedly preparing to launch its much-awaited Rs 11,000-crore initial public offering (IPO) in July 2026. According to people familiar with the matter, the Bengaluru-based startup is targeting a stock market debut before July 31.
If the public issue moves ahead as planned, Zepto will join competitors Zomato and Swiggy, which are already listed on Indian stock exchanges.
The company recently received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for its maiden public issue and is now expected to submit its Updated Draft Red Herring Prospectus (UDRHP). Zepto had earlier filed its IPO papers through the confidential route in December 2025.
Founded by Stanford University dropouts Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto has built its growth strategy differently from many players in the quick commerce space. A recent report by brokerage Bernstein highlighted that the company has focused more on strengthening existing markets rather than rapidly expanding into newer locations.
According to the report, Zepto currently has the highest concentration of dark stores in the quick commerce category, operating nearly 21 stores per city. In comparison, several competitors operate around nine stores per city.
The report also noted that Zepto currently runs 1,255 dark stores across 61 cities, while rival Blinkit has 2,222 stores spread across 243 cities. Instead of aggressively entering more markets, Zepto appears to be prioritising stronger penetration within the cities where it already operates.
Bernstein further pointed out that Zepto maintains the highest store-to-pincode ratio in the segment, reflecting its strategy of building density in selected urban markets.
The company's network continues to remain heavily focused on metro cities, where factors such as faster delivery timelines, higher order frequency and stronger customer engagement can help improve operations over time.
According to the analysis, rather than pushing growth through large-scale expansion, Zepto appears to be focusing on building stronger usage patterns and operational efficiency within a smaller number of markets.
With IPO plans now moving forward, Zepto is preparing for a major milestone that could further strengthen its position in India's growing quick commerce market.
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