Centre Urges States to Focus on Sustainable Tourism, Visitor Experience and Ease of Doing Business

Kevadia, Gujarat | May 11, 2026: The Ministry of Tourism convened a two-day National Consultative Workshop on “Developing Tourist Destinations to Global Standards” in Kevadia, Gujarat, bringing together tourism officials, state governments and industry stakeholders to chart a roadmap for India’s next phase of tourism infrastructure and destination development.

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who chaired the workshop, stressed that while the Centre will continue supporting tourism infrastructure projects, States and Union Territories must play a more active role in integrated destination planning, sustainability, stakeholder participation and improving ease of doing business.

The workshop focused on building globally competitive, experience-driven and sustainable tourism destinations aligned with international standards.

Key Highlights

• Ministry of Tourism organised a two-day national workshop in Kevadia, Gujarat
• Focus areas included destination management, sustainability and tourism infrastructure
• States urged to adopt integrated planning for world-class tourism development
• Discussions held on National Adventure Tourism Framework and MICE tourism promotion
• Ekta Nagar and Statue of Unity model showcased as a benchmark destination
• Multiple states presented destination development strategies and tourism initiatives

Tourism Ministry Pushes Collaborative Development Model

The workshop opened with remarks by Shri Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General (Tourism), followed by an address from Tourism Secretary Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar.

Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between the Centre, States and industry stakeholders to enhance tourism experiences and strengthen India’s tourism ecosystem.

A major session featured the presentation of the Concept Note on “Developing Global Standard Tourist Destinations” by Shri Suvasish Das, Joint Secretary, Destination Development Division. Discussions revolved around integrated destination planning, visitor experience enhancement, tourism infrastructure, sustainability and destination management practices.

Statue of Unity Model Highlighted as Tourism Benchmark

Officials also presented the tourism development model of Ekta Nagar and the Statue of Unity, showcasing how integrated planning, sustainability-focused development and efficient visitor management can transform destinations into globally recognised tourism hubs.

The model has increasingly been cited by the Tourism Ministry as a template for future destination development projects across India.

Adventure Tourism, MICE and Digital Promotion in Focus

Technical sessions during the workshop covered several emerging tourism priorities, including:

• Proposed National Adventure Tourism Framework
• Ease of doing business in the tourism sector
• City-level MICE Promotion Bureau Guidelines
• Tourism marketing through the Incredible India Digital Platform and social media

The discussions highlighted the government’s growing emphasis on niche tourism segments and digital-led destination marketing.

States Present Tourism Development Strategies

Several states showcased their tourism development plans and destination-specific strategies during the first phase of presentations. Participating states included Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu.

The presentations focused on infrastructure expansion, sustainable tourism practices and strategies to improve global competitiveness of destinations.

The second day of the workshop is expected to feature additional region-wise presentations from States and Union Territories on future tourism destination development proposals.