Union Budget 2026–27 puts tourism, culture and heritage at the centre of growth, with eco-trails, Buddhist circuits, heritage revival and skill training. Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat says the bold push will help India emerge as a global tourism hub.
15 Heritage sites, 10,000 guides to drive tourism push, says Shekhawat
New Delhi: Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday welcomed the Union Budget 2026-27, calling it a transformative and forward-looking blueprint that places tourism, culture and heritage at the heart of India’s growth strategy.
In a message shared on social media, the minister said the budget offers unprecedented encouragement to the tourism and cultural sectors, far exceeding expectations. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for shaping a vision that aims to position India as a global tourism hub while preserving its civilisational legacy.
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Shekhawat thanked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting a budget that strongly supports heritage conservation, spiritual tourism, skill development and sustainable travel. He said the proposals would accelerate infrastructure development, create large-scale employment and strengthen India’s global cultural footprint.
According to the minister, the budget reflects a balanced approach that combines economic growth with environmental responsibility and cultural preservation.
One of the major announcements includes the development of thematic tourism trails across diverse regions of the country. These include mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir; eco and nature trails in Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats and Podhigai Malai in the Western Ghats; turtle trails along nesting sites in Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala; and bird-watching trails at Pulicat Lake in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
These initiatives aim to promote eco-tourism while ensuring sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
The budget also proposes the development of 15 archaeological sites including Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Adichanallur, Sarnath, Hastinapur and Leh Palace into experiential heritage destinations that combine conservation with immersive visitor experiences.
To boost spiritual tourism, a new Buddhist Circuit scheme will be launched in the North-East, covering states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. The initiative will focus on preserving monasteries and temples, improving connectivity and creating modern pilgrim amenities.
Skill development receives a major push with a pilot project to provide world-class training to 10,000 tour guides across 20 major destinations, in collaboration with Indian Institutes of Management through online and offline modes.
The budget also proposes upgrading the National Council for Hotel Management into a National Institute of Hospitality to align hospitality education with global standards. Additionally, five regional medical tourism hubs will be supported, and India will host the first Global Big Cat Summit, reinforcing leadership in wildlife conservation and eco-tourism.
Shekhawat said these measures would strengthen local economies, promote sustainable tourism and deepen global engagement with India’s cultural heritage.
