FAITH Conclave 2026 Charts Roadmap for India's Tourism-Led Economic Growth
The FAITH Conclave 2026 reinforced tourism's role as a strategic economic growth engine, presenting a unified industry agenda to accelerate investment, improve ease of travel, and strengthen India's position as a leading global tourism destination.
By SOH Edit Team
The FAITH Conclave 2026, held in New Delhi under the theme "Incredible India: Invaluable Economics," convened policymakers, tourism stakeholders, and industry leaders to develop a shared vision for strengthening India's position as a leading global tourism destination. The conclave focused on fostering public-private collaboration and identifying actionable priorities to unlock the country's vast tourism potential.
The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH), the apex body representing India's tourism, travel, and hospitality sector, presented its Tourism Growth Charter—a comprehensive, time-bound action agenda designed to accelerate tourism-led economic growth, employment generation, and regional development while enhancing India's competitiveness in the global tourism landscape.
Key Priorities of the Tourism Growth Charter
The Charter outlines six strategic priorities aimed at driving sustainable sector growth:
- Tourism Infrastructure and Industry Status: Grant tourism infrastructure status at the Central level and industry status across all states to improve access to finance, lower borrowing costs, and attract greater private investment.
- Mission-Mode Development of 50 Destinations: Fast-track the development of 50 high-potential tourism destinations through clearly defined implementation timelines and coordinated execution.
- Strengthening the 'Incredible India' Brand: Launch a sustained, globally focused tourism promotion campaign with dedicated funding to enhance India's international visibility and increase foreign tourist arrivals.
- Liberalising the Visa Regime: Expand e-visa coverage and simplify entry procedures to improve ease of travel and encourage higher inbound tourism.
- Investment in Tourism Infrastructure: Prioritise investments in last-mile connectivity, convention centres, wayside amenities, cruise terminals, and digital infrastructure to enhance the overall visitor experience.
- Regulatory and Tax Reforms: Rationalise taxation in line with global benchmarks and establish a single-window clearance mechanism to facilitate investment and improve the ease of doing business.
Puneet Chhatwal, Chairman of FAITH
Industry Perspective
Puneet Chhatwal, Chairman of FAITH, emphasised the urgency of translating tourism's potential into measurable outcomes. "The challenge before us is no longer proving tourism's potential; it is harnessing it at scale. Tourism is a growth engine that has a multiplier effect on both economic and social development. By acting now on industry status, 50 destinations, Brand Bharat and ease of travel, we can position India as a global tourism powerhouse this decade. This is the essence of Incredible India: Invaluable Economics—building tourism as the pathway to national growth and global influence."
The Tourism Growth Charter reflects the industry's collective commitment to positioning tourism as a strategic pillar of India's economic development agenda and calls for coordinated policy action to realise the sector's long-term growth potential.
