Tourism Ministry consults industry leaders on hotel classification reforms, digital governance, investment facilitation and visitor experience

Key Highlights

• Ministry of Tourism held a high-level Ease of Doing Business consultation with tourism and hospitality industry stakeholders in New Delhi.
• Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making India a globally competitive tourism destination.
• Industry associations including FAITH, FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, PHDCCI, WTTCII, TGFI, ABTO and IAAPI participated in the discussions.
• Government proposed simplifying hotel classification through a self-declaration-based system and reducing compliance requirements.
• Stakeholders discussed visa reforms, faster approvals, digital governance, tourism infrastructure and investment facilitation.
• New ideas such as an Entity Locker and a national tourism stakeholder database were explored to improve ease of compliance.

Tourism Ministry Engages Industry on Reforms to Improve Ease of Doing Business

New Delhi, June 22, 2026: In a significant move towards strengthening India’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem, the Ministry of Tourism held a high-level consultation with industry leaders to identify reforms that can improve the ease of doing business and accelerate sectoral growth.

Chaired by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the meeting brought together leading industry bodies, including FAITH, FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, PHDCCI, WTTCII, TGFI, ABTO and IAAPI, to discuss regulatory reforms, investment opportunities and strategies to enhance India’s global tourism competitiveness.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to creating a more business-friendly environment that supports investment, innovation and sustainable growth across the tourism and hospitality sector.

The Ministry also highlighted reforms already undertaken, including the delinking of licenses from the Ministry’s hotel classification process, while inviting industry feedback on further improvements.

Hotel Classification, Digital Governance and Faster Clearances Take Centre Stage

Tourism Secretary Bhuvnesh Kumar proposed a major overhaul of the existing hotel classification framework by replacing inspection-based assessments with a self-declaration model, reducing mandatory certification requirements and simplifying compliance procedures. The proposal received positive feedback from industry stakeholders.

Participants also recommended:

• Simplifying visa procedures to improve international arrivals.
• Rationalising taxation and regulatory frameworks.
• Defining timelines for approvals and licenses.
• Accelerating investment clearances through greater coordination between the Centre and States.
• Strengthening destination marketing in key international markets.
• Promoting digital governance solutions to reduce paperwork and compliance burdens.

A key proposal discussed was the creation of an Entity Locker for tourism businesses, enabling hotels, tour operators and other stakeholders to securely store and share regulatory documents digitally, improving operational efficiency.

The consultation also highlighted the importance of building a comprehensive tourism database covering hotels, homestays, tour operators and tourist guides to support evidence-based policymaking and investment planning.

Focus on Emerging Tourism Segments

Industry representatives urged the government to develop supportive policy frameworks for high-growth sectors such as experiential tourism, live events, amusement parks and homestays, recognising their potential to generate employment, attract investment and diversify India’s tourism offerings.

Discussions also covered improving tourism infrastructure, developing tourism hubs, facilitating land availability for tourism projects and enhancing the overall visitor experience through better connectivity and digital services.

The Ministry welcomed the industry’s recommendations and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with stakeholders and State Governments to implement reforms that improve business confidence and position India as a leading global tourism destination.

Hospitality & Tourism Impact

The proposed reforms could significantly improve the operating environment for hotels, resorts, travel companies, tour operators and tourism investors by reducing regulatory complexity and accelerating approvals. A simplified hotel classification system, digital compliance tools and streamlined licensing processes are expected to lower compliance costs while improving ease of expansion for hospitality businesses.

If implemented, reforms related to visa facilitation, destination marketing, tourism infrastructure and emerging tourism segments could further enhance India’s competitiveness, attract greater domestic and international investment, and strengthen the country’s position as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism markets.

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