MoU to leverage AI, digital marketing and traveller insights to enhance destination promotion and strengthen Incredible India campaign

Key Highlights

• Ministry of Tourism has signed an MoU with Google India to accelerate the digital promotion of Indian tourism.
• The partnership will focus on artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies, data-driven insights and capacity building.
• Collaboration aims to enhance the visibility of India’s destinations among domestic and international travellers.
• Google will support tourism promotion through travel trends, digital engagement insights and marketing expertise.
• Ministry officials will receive training in AI, digital marketing, content creation and campaign optimisation.
• The agreement is non-commercial, non-binding and carries no financial implications for either party.

Ministry of Tourism Signs Strategic Partnership with Google India to Boost Digital Tourism Promotion

New Delhi, June 30, 2026: In a major step towards strengthening India’s digital tourism strategy, the Ministry of Tourism has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google India Pvt. Ltd. to enhance the global promotion of Indian tourism through artificial intelligence, digital technologies and data-driven marketing.

The agreement was exchanged in the presence of Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi and establishes a collaborative framework for destination promotion, knowledge sharing, capacity building and the adoption of emerging technologies to improve visitor engagement.

The event was attended by Tourism Secretary Bhuvnesh Kumar, Additional Secretary and Director General (Tourism) Suman Billa, senior ministry officials and Preeti Lobana, Country Manager and Vice President, Google India.

AI and Digital Technologies to Power India’s Tourism Marketing

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted the growing role of digital innovation in transforming tourism promotion.

“Digital technologies have the potential to create immersive experiences that can showcase the glory and grandeur of India’s cultural sites to audiences across the world. By harnessing cutting-edge technologies, we can transform the way travellers discover, experience and engage with India’s rich cultural and natural heritage,” he said.

The Minister added that the partnership aligns with the Ministry’s technology-driven approach under the Incredible India campaign and is expected to strengthen India’s global tourism visibility while positioning the country as a modern and accessible travel destination.

Under the collaboration, Google India will provide insights into global travel trends, traveller behaviour and digital engagement patterns, enabling the Ministry to develop more targeted and evidence-based tourism marketing campaigns.

The partnership will also include capacity-building programmes for Ministry officials covering digital marketing, campaign optimisation, content creation and the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Hospitality & Tourism Impact

The partnership represents a significant step towards modernising India’s tourism promotion strategy at a time when digital platforms increasingly influence travel planning and destination discovery. By leveraging Google’s AI capabilities, search insights and digital marketing expertise, India can improve the visibility of its heritage sites, cultural attractions, wellness destinations, adventure tourism offerings and lesser-known destinations among global audiences.

For hotels, resorts, travel companies, tour operators, destination management firms and state tourism boards, stronger digital promotion can translate into higher traveller engagement, improved destination awareness and increased booking opportunities. Enhanced use of AI and data analytics will also enable more personalised tourism campaigns, helping the hospitality industry reach high-value domestic and international travellers more effectively.

The collaboration further reinforces India’s ambition to position itself as a technology-driven, globally competitive tourism destination, supporting long-term growth across the travel, hospitality and tourism ecosystem.