Industry leaders across hospitality and experiential travel believe Union Budget 2026 lays a strong foundation for long-term growth in tourism by improving connectivity, affordability and destination development, while also opening new opportunities for niche and experience-led segments.
Ritwik Khare, Founder & CEO, ELIVAAS, said the Budget presents a growth-driven vision where infrastructure and mobility work together to expand travel demand. He highlighted the announcement of seven high-speed rail corridors as a game-changer that will significantly influence how travellers plan holidays. Faster rail connectivity, he noted, will encourage more frequent, shorter trips and make weekend and mid-week leisure travel more viable, while also offering a cost-effective alternative to air travel for a wider customer base.
Khare also welcomed the reduction in TCS on overseas tour packages from 5 per cent to 2 per cent, stating that it improves overall travel sentiment and disposable spending. According to him, these measures will increase travel velocity, smoothen seasonality and diversify travel patterns. For ELIVAAS, he said, improved connectivity and shorter travel cycles align well with the rising preference for private villas and flexible stay formats, supporting sustained demand growth and wider geographic expansion.
From a destination and heritage tourism perspective, Bhavik Sheth, Chief Operating Officer, Evoke Experiences, pointed to the Budget’s focus on upgrading Indus Valley Civilisation sites such as Dholavira and Lothal as a significant step towards positioning Gujarat as a global heritage destination. He said these sites represent far more than archaeological remains, offering insights into India’s ancient urban planning, sustainability practices and civic intelligence.
Sheth added that structured investment in interpretation centres, visitor infrastructure and storytelling would allow travellers to engage more meaningfully with India’s civilisational legacy. For experiential hospitality brands, this creates opportunities to curate immersive journeys that blend history, landscape and local communities, ranging from guided archaeological walks to responsible stays that benefit surrounding regions. If implemented effectively, he believes the initiative could redefine heritage tourism in India, making it more education-led, experience-driven and globally benchmarked.
