India launches digital tourism initiatives on World Tourism Day

On World Tourism Day 2026, India's Union Minister of Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, announced a strategic roadmap to have the tourism sector contribute 10% to the national economy by 2047. To support this goal, the government launched the National Digital Tourism Stack and the Dekho Apna Desh 2.0 campaign, which aims to promote lesser-known, sustainable destinations to balance tourist footfall. The Ministry also signed several MoUs with industry partners like Airbnb and MakeMyTrip to enhance promotion and community participation.

Regional developments highlight diverse approaches to growth. In Meghalaya, the state is implementing a community-led, climate-resilient model focused on high-value, low-volume tourism, which has already increased tourism-linked livelihoods to over 75,000. In Assam, officials are unveiling a five-year master plan to develop new circuits, including the Dima Hasao region. Meanwhile, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, celebrations included digital infrastructure discussions and community art competitions, and in Visakhapatnam, authorities are pushing for major infrastructure and luxury hospitality projects to bolster the region's status as a tourism hub.