India's Tourism Sector Poised for Sustainable Growth with Climate Action and Community Inclusion

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasized tourism's potential as India's future GDP driver at the Tourism Sustainability Summit 2025. He highlighted the challenges posed by climate change and cultural dilution. Embracing local communities and sustainability were outlined as key strategies for the sector's growth.

India's tourism industry is set to become a major contributor to the nation's economic growth, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat declared at the Tourism Sustainability Summit 2025. Organized by The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) in New Delhi, the summit addressed the critical role of stakeholders in fostering expansion.

The minister stressed that despite the Indian economy's rapid development, challenges such as climate change demand urgent attention. Highlighted at a recent Davos summit, the Indian economy's potential to double in size within eight years underscores the importance of sustainable tourism practices.

Additional Secretary Suman Billa emphasized artificial intelligence's potential to advance the sector, while Principal Secretary Sheo Shankar Shukla showcased Madhya Pradesh's tourist opportunities. The FHRAI President called for collaborative problem-solving, underscoring the importance of engaging local communities and adopting sustainable models already successful in states like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

(With inputs from agencies.)