FAITH Conclave 2026 to Place Tourism Economics at the Centre of India’s Growth Agenda

The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH) will convene the second FAITH Conclave on 16–17 July 2026 at Taj Palace, New Delhi. Designed as a high-level platform for government–industry dialogue, the two-day gathering will bring together policymakers, tourism leaders, airlines, hotel companies, travel businesses and other stakeholders to examine how tourism can contribute more strongly to India’s economic and social development.

The 2026 edition carries the theme “Incredible India: Invaluable Economics.” Rather than treating tourism only as a leisure activity, the conclave will examine its wider role in employment creation, entrepreneurship, investment, community development, cultural preservation and India’s global positioning. FAITH, the apex policy and strategy body representing 11 national tourism, travel and hospitality associations, says the event is intended to help shape time-bound milestones up to 2030 while supporting the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

According to the tentative agenda released on 6 July, the conclave will open with an inaugural plenary titled “Unlocking India’s Tourism Economy.” The first day will also include discussions on Kashmir’s tourism revival and the more engaging, experience-led side of Incredible India, followed by a gala networking dinner. The second day will move into detailed sectoral conversations covering tourism entrepreneurship, India’s MICE ambitions, the future of hospitality, inbound tourism strategy, aviation-led growth, domestic tourism, challenges facing hotels and restaurants, destination connectivity and frontier tourism in India’s border regions.

The announced programme includes Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, WTTC CEO Gloria Guevara, Member of Parliament Anurag Singh Thakur and senior Ministry of Tourism official Suman Billa. It is also expected to feature diplomatic representatives, government officials and prominent leaders from aviation, hospitality, travel technology and destination services. FAITH Chairman Puneet Chhatwal has described tourism as a catalyst for jobs, entrepreneurship, inclusive prosperity and the strengthening of Brand India.

The conclave builds on FAITH’s inaugural edition, held at the same venue in August 2025, which attracted more than 350 delegates and included senior ministers, government representatives and tourism industry executives. For 2026, the emphasis appears to be moving from broad recognition of tourism’s potential towards practical coordination across policy, infrastructure, aviation, hospitality, marketing and investment.

FAITH has articulated an ambitious industry vision for 2047: a US$3 trillion tourism economy supported by 100 million foreign tourist arrivals and 20 billion domestic tourism visits. These figures are long-term targets rather than forecasts, but they explain the economic focus of this year’s conclave. Its real value will lie in whether discussions produce measurable priorities, stronger public–private collaboration and a clearer roadmap for making Indian tourism more competitive, sustainable and globally visible.