New Delhi: The Iconic Travel & Tourism Summit 2026 commenced with a powerful inaugural address by Jyoti Mayal, who called upon the industry to embrace “Tourism 4.0” and build resilience through technology, sustainability, and human capital.
Organised in collaboration with Red Hat Communications, the summit brought together key stakeholders from across the travel, tourism, and hospitality ecosystem, including domestic and international experts.
Opening the summit, Mayal described tourism as the “world’s greatest storyteller,” highlighting how the industry has evolved from selling destinations to creating immersive, personalised experiences. She stressed that the sector now stands at a critical juncture where digital transformation is redefining its core.
“We are moving from service with a smile to service with a digital pulse, driven by data, connectivity, and intelligence,” she stated.
Drawing from decades of experience, Mayal underlined that resilience in today’s tourism landscape is not about recovery, but about proactive transformation. “Resilience is not about bouncing back; it is about building forward,” she remarked, setting the tone for the summit’s theme—Coding Resilience for the New Tomorrow.
She outlined three key pillars shaping the future of Tourism 4.0:
- Hyper-personalisation through big data and AI, enabling tailored travel experiences
- Smart and sustainable destinations, leveraging technology to manage over-tourism and environmental impact
- Trust through secure digital systems, including blockchain and contactless technologies
Highlighting the importance of sustainability, Mayal noted that “a resilient tomorrow must also be a sustainable one,” advocating for the use of real-time data, sensors, and digital tools to protect heritage and natural assets.
As Chairperson of the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council, she placed strong emphasis on human capital, stating that technology alone cannot drive transformation. “Technology is the how, but people are the why,” she said, calling for large-scale upskilling initiatives to prepare the workforce—especially youth and women—for the digital future.
Mayal also stressed the need for stronger collaboration across government, industry, and institutions. “We cannot build the future in silos. We need an open-source mindset where all stakeholders work as one ecosystem,” she said.
Addressing emerging travel trends, she highlighted the rise of solo female travellers and the growing demand for safe, seamless, and personalised travel experiences.
Concluding her address, Mayal urged the industry to take ownership of its future. “The question is whether we are writing the code of tomorrow or simply becoming part of someone else’s programme,” she said.
The summit is expected to host a series of discussions on innovation, sustainability, digital transformation, and inclusive growth, positioning India as a key player in the global tourism landscape.
