The Ministry of Tourism has reiterated its commitment to improving the ease of doing business in India’s tourism and hospitality sector, following a high-level consultation with industry stakeholders aimed at identifying regulatory challenges and accelerating sectoral growth.
The interactive session, chaired by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, brought together representatives from leading tourism and hospitality associations, including FAITH, ASSOCHAM, PHDCCI, WTTCII, TGFI, ABTO, CII, IAAPI and FICCI. Discussions focused on reforms needed to enhance India’s competitiveness as a global tourism destination while creating a more business-friendly environment for industry participants.
During the meeting, the Ministry outlined several reform measures already underway, including the delinking of licenses from the Ministry’s hotel classification framework. Stakeholders were invited to share recommendations on improving regulatory processes, reducing compliance burdens and facilitating investment across the tourism ecosystem.
Addressing the gathering, Shekhawat emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between the government and industry to remove operational bottlenecks and support long-term growth in the sector. The consultation also highlighted the government’s broader efforts to make tourism businesses more efficient and investment-ready.
A key area of discussion was the simplification of hotel classification procedures. Tourism Secretary V. Vidyavathi Kumar proposed shifting from an inspection-based model to a self-declaration-based assessment system. The proposal also included reducing documentation requirements and introducing time-bound procedures aimed at lowering administrative burdens for businesses.
Industry representatives raised concerns related to taxation, approvals, licensing timelines and tourism infrastructure development. Participants also called for greater adoption of digital governance tools and improved coordination among regulatory authorities to streamline approvals and enhance operational efficiency.
The consultation examined technology-driven initiatives, including the concept of an Entity Locker for the tourism and hospitality sector. The proposed system could facilitate digital document verification, reduce paperwork and simplify compliance processes for businesses.
Stakeholders further stressed the importance of data-driven policymaking, improved tourism databases and enhanced destination marketing to strengthen India’s position in international tourism markets. Discussions also covered emerging tourism segments such as live events, experiential tourism, amusement parks and the regulation of homestays.
The Ministry of Tourism said it would continue working closely with industry bodies, state governments and other stakeholders to support reforms aimed at boosting investment, innovation and sustainable growth across India’s tourism sector.
Source: This article is based on an official press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
Press Release Page | Press Information Bureau
