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Beyond Heritage: The New Pillars Driving India’s Tourism Economy | Travel News

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India’s tourism narrative has moved beyond monuments and international visitors. From weddings to wellness, here are the trends redefining the sector for a new era of growth.
Spiritual tourism surges in places like Ayodhya and Varanasi.
India’s tourism economy has entered a transformative phase, shifting from a heritage-driven, foreigner-focused model to one powered by domestic demand, business events, youth-led experiences, and spiritual journeys. The change is both cultural and economic, marking a new chapter in how Indians travel, spend, and reimagine hospitality.
The Rise of Domestic and Spiritual Tourism
“Before the pandemic, India’s tourism was about foreigners chasing heritage: Taj Mahal, forts, palaces. That engine has flattened. Post-pandemic, the real pillars are domestic and business-driven,” says Sahil Pandit, Founder and CEO, Promiller Group.
He points to a surge in weddings moving from private farms to hotels, as well as MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) and corporate off-sites growing nearly 40% since 2020, now worth over ₹50,000 crore. “Gen Z and millennials, restless by nature, are spending on boutique stays, mountains, and Instagrammable escapes. And now spiritual tourism is exploding – Ayodhya, Varanasi, Kedarnath, Puri, Tirupati – these places are pulling crowds like never before,” he adds.
Innovation Beyond Guest Experience
While the demand side is diversifying, business innovation is reshaping the industry’s backbone. Sanjiv Agarwal, Chairman and CEO, Fairfest Media, explains: “Hospitality and business innovation are the new pillars of India’s tourism economy, going beyond guest experiences. Hospitality continues to be the anchor with trust, comfort and cultural richness. On the other hand, business innovation is enabling enterprises to operate smarter, scale faster and adapt to changing market realities.”
Agarwal highlights how the convergence of these two forces is creating sustainable business models and stronger industry ecosystems. “The next phase of tourism growth will be defined by those who integrate hospitality with innovative practices, be profitable and relevant in the long term,” he says.
Building an Economic Powerhouse
The numbers underscore this confidence. Kumar Pandey, Chief Strategy Officer, Hostbooks, notes: “The tourism and hospitality sector in India is becoming part of an economic force with projections estimating it will contribute over Rs 22 lakh crore to GDP in 2025 and support over 48 million jobs.”
Pandey adds, “Multiple records of international visitor spend and the growth of domestic demand demonstrate the increasing maturity and resilience of the sector.”
India’s tourism story is no longer confined to monuments and foreign visitors. It is being rewritten by domestic travellers, fuelled by business events, spiritual journeys, and innovation across hospitality. The road ahead belongs to those who can combine tradition with technology, culture with commerce, and experience with efficiency – setting global benchmarks for tourism excellence.
Delhi, India, India
September 15, 2025, 17:26 IST
Travel Guides & Articles
Air India Express Starts Daily Direct Flight Between Dehradun and Bengaluru

Air India Express has commenced operations from Dehradun Airport with the launch of daily direct flights to Bengaluru. The first flight on the Dehradun–Bengaluru route was flagged off by Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, in the presence of other dignitaries.
Welcoming Air India Express to Uttarakhand, the Chief Minister, said, “The start of Air India Express services from Dehradun marks an important milestone for civil aviation in our state. Enhanced connectivity to Bengaluru will provide a significant boost to tourism, trade, and investment opportunities in Uttarakhand, while also strengthening links for students, professionals, and entrepreneurs with one of India’s most dynamic cities. We welcome Air India Express and look forward to the positive impact this connectivity will bring to our people and economy.”
With this launch, guests from Dehradun gain convenient one-stop connectivity to 18 destinations including Chennai, Goa, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, North Goa, Pune, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam through Bengaluru.
Flight Schedule from September 15, 2025 (All timings are local) |
||||
Departure |
Arrival |
Departure |
Arrival |
Frequency |
Dehradun |
Bengaluru |
16:30 |
19:30 |
Daily |
Bengaluru |
Dehradun |
12:50 |
16:00 |
Daily |
Commenting on the occasion, Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, said, “We are delighted to commence operations from Dehradun, our 58th station, with daily direct flights to Bengaluru, our largest domestic hub. This is the third new station launched this month, following Ahmedabad and Chandigarh, underscoring the rapid expansion of our network. The new route not only connects Uttarakhand directly with Bengaluru’s economic and educational hubs but also offers convenient one-stop connections to 18 more cities across India. With our fleet now crossing 115 aircraft, we are scaling up, building a stronger, more accessible network that reflects the aspirations of modern India.”
As part of its ‘Tales of India’ initiative celebrating the country’s diverse art and culture, the new Boeing 737-8 aircraft deployed to operate the first flight from Dehradun proudly features a livery inspired by ‘Aipan,’ Uttarakhand’s traditional art form of floor and wall paintings.
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Top Places To Spot Endangered Birds In India – Travel and Leisure Asia

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Vietjet to deploy newly-inducted Airbus A330 WideBody on India routes

Vietjet has welcomed an Airbus A330 widebody, bringing its fleet to 121 aircraft across the whole group. This milestone further strengthens the airline’s operations between India and Vietnam, underscoring its commitment to meeting soaring demand for travel during the year-end festive season, including the Diwali holiday.
The new aircraft will be deployed immediately on Vietjet’s India-Vietnam services, as well as flights to Australia, Japan and Kazakhstan, offering passengers enhanced comfort and a modern inflight experience. The airline currently operates 10 direct routes connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru to major Vietnamese cities, including Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.
The latest A330 features Vietjet’s signature livery of vibrant red and yellow, highlighted by a flowing golden silk ribbon symbolizing connectivity, cultural exchange, and global integration. Powered by the Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, the twin-aisle aircraft delivers fuel efficiency and performance.
With a modern fleet and more than 400 new aircraft on order from Airbus and Boeing through 2030, Vietjet continues to expand its international flight network, embrace advanced technologies, and enhance operational efficiency, while delivering safe, memorable journeys for passengers worldwide and long-term sustainable value for its stakeholders.
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