As the Union Budget 2026 draws closer, India’s travel and tourism sector is no longer talking about recovery. That phase is behind us. Flights are full again, hotel occupancies are steady, and travellers, both domestic and international, are exploring destinations beyond the usual suspects.
The real question now is different, and far more pressing: Is India actually ready for what comes next?
Because the next wave of travel isn’t limited to big cities or luxury resorts. It’s heading towards pilgrimage towns, wellness retreats, rural clusters, cultural circuits, and villages that have never before been on the tourism map. And readiness, in this context, means far more than footfall.