As the Director General of Tourism, Government of India, Suman Billa brings with him a bold and strategic vision to reimagine the country’s tourism landscape. His recent statements reflect a clear commitment to data-driven growth, sustainable development, and enabling policy reforms that can unlock the sector’s true potential.
On Economic Impact and Investment
“Tourism currently contributes 5.6% to the country’s GDP, which is quite low. The task is to double it in the next 10 years by encouraging market forces to invest aggressively in the sector.”This ambitious target underscores his belief in leveraging private sector participation to drive exponential growth in tourism.🏨 On Infrastructure Status for Hotels”Today, investment into hotels is considered as part of lending under the real estate category. Such investments need to be classified as infrastructure development.”This shift in classification, he suggests, is vital to attract more capital and reduce the cost of financing for hotel developers.
On the Need for Data-Driven Decision Making
“While government data provides a solid foundation, it often captures only one facet of the entire landscape. To truly understand the dynamics of the tourism and hospitality sectors, we must triangulate this data with insights from industry bodies, international organisations like the WTO, and other reliable sources.”A more holistic approach to data, he believes, will lead to smarter policies and better outcomes.
On Sustainable and Responsible Tourism
“We have to have a problem-solving approach. We have to make sure tourism grows in a responsible and sustainable manner across all parameters – socially, economically, and in terms of carrying capacity.”His focus on sustainability ensures that growth is not just rapid, but also resilient and inclusive. Suman Billa’s leadership marks a pivotal moment for Indian tourism. Through a mix of visionary policy direction and pragmatic implementation, he is laying the groundwork for a sector that is globally competitive, economically robust, and deeply aligned with trw he principles of sustainable development.
