World Tourism Day 2026: India to Transform Tourism Sector via Digital Agenda and AI

World Tourism Day 2026 will be celebrated on September 27 under the theme "Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism." This year's primary focus is the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital innovation in shaping the future of tourism to make it smarter, more inclusive, and sustainable. The global event is scheduled to be hosted in El Salvador.

In India, the tourism sector has emerged as a major source of economic growth and employment. According to Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) estimates from the Ministry of Tourism, the sector contributed 5.22% to the country's GDP in 2023-24 and supported 8.46 crore jobs. By 2025, the number of domestic tourists reached 428.55 crore and foreign tourists reached 2.53 crore, resulting in foreign exchange earnings of ₹2,76,831 crore.

On the occasion of World Tourism Day, a central ceremony will be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. During the event, Union Tourism Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will launch significant initiatives, including the 'National Digital Tourism Stack' and 'Dekho Apna Desh 2.0.' The National Digital Tourism Stack is an open digital public infrastructure initiative, while 'Dekho Apna Desh 2.0' aims to promote lesser-known tourist destinations.

India is utilizing e-visas, the 'Incredible India' digital platform, and NIDHI+ to strengthen its digital tourism ecosystem. The e-visa facility is now available to citizens of 172 countries, with approximately 78% of all visas being issued electronically. The NIDHI+ platform has brought transparency to the registration and classification of tourism service providers. Additionally, in June 2026, the Ministry of Tourism signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google India to bolster digital promotion.

The government is working toward infrastructure development through schemes such as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASHAD. Under Swadesh Darshan 2.0, 53 projects worth ₹2,207.08 crore have been approved. Similarly, 54 projects worth ₹1,726.74 crore have been sanctioned under the PRASHAD scheme for the development of facilities at pilgrimage sites. To enhance connectivity, a budget of ₹28,840 crore has been approved for the Modified UDAN scheme for the period 2026-27 to 2035-36, under which 100 airports and 200 helipads will be developed.

In the area of skill development, over 1.68 lakh people were trained between 2020-21 and 2024-25 through the 'Capacity Building for Service Providers' (CBSP) scheme. Furthermore, under the 'Tourism Mitra/Tourism Didi' initiative launched in 2024, 4,382 local service providers have been trained in hospitality and sustainability so far.