SEP 27: The Ministry of Tourism celebrated World Tourism Day 2025 on September 27 in New Delhi, aligning with the global theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”. The event brought together leaders from government, industry, academia, and civil society to highlight tourism’s potential as a driver of economic growth, cultural exchange, and environmental stewardship.
Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, served as the Chief Guest, while Shri Suresh Gopi, Minister of State for Tourism, Petroleum & Natural Gas, presided. In his keynote, Bery emphasized that tourism is more than leisure—it is a tool for inclusive development, biodiversity preservation, and regional growth. He stressed the need for convergence between transport, digital technology, infrastructure, and community participation to realize India’s tourism potential.
The Minister of State underlined India’s sustained focus on eco-friendly tourism, highlighting schemes like Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASHAD. He noted that connectivity remains central to India’s strategy, with projects such as UDAN, multimodal transport hubs, and last-mile access enhancing visitor experiences.
Key announcements included MoUs with Netflix for promoting Indian destinations through global storytelling, and partnerships with Atithi Foundation and leading OTAs for research, innovation, and data-driven policymaking. The Ministry also launched the Project Management Information System (PMIS) to enable real-time monitoring of tourism projects and released the 66th India Tourism Data Compendium, which shows India ranking 20th globally in tourist arrivals.
A booklet on MUDRA loans for homestays was introduced to guide entrepreneurs in accessing credit through the Jan Samarth portal. Panel discussions on connectivity, technology-driven visitor experiences, and destination management showcased India’s integrated and forward-looking approach.
The celebration reaffirmed India’s resolve to make tourism sustainable, inclusive, and central to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
