The 15th edition of Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB 2026) concluded in Jaipur after a high-impact three-day run, reinforcing India’s position as a fast-emerging global inbound tourism hub.
Hosted at the Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre, the event delivered over 10,000 structured B2B meetings between international buyers and Indian sellers—highlighting strong global demand for India’s diverse tourism offerings.
This year’s edition saw participation from 195+ foreign buyers across 50+ countries, alongside 225+ Indian exhibitors and 9 State Tourism Boards, marking one of the largest turnouts in the event’s history.
Organised by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with FICCI and the Rajasthan government, GITB 2026 went beyond trade to drive policy dialogue and investment momentum.
A key highlight was the EY–FICCI report, which projected global travel spending to touch $2.95 trillion by 2034 and called for critical reforms, including reducing GST on premium hotel stays from 18% to 9%. The report also identified MICE, wellness, and event tourism as high-growth segments for India.
The event was inaugurated by Diya Kumari, who emphasised Rajasthan’s ambition to emerge as a world-class experiential destination. Senior officials, including Suman Billa, reiterated India’s goal to double tourism’s GDP contribution from 5.22% to 10%.
Adding to its significance, GITB 2026 hosted the first-ever Travel & Tourism Excellence Awards, recognising top performers across 34 categories, while also honouring key industry stalwarts for their contributions.
With tourism already contributing nearly ₹21 trillion to India’s economy and supporting over 46 million jobs, GITB 2026 has further cemented its role as India’s leading inbound tourism platform—driving business, shaping policy, and accelerating the sector’s long-term growth trajectory.
