Tourism Leaders Forge Unified Vision at FAITH Conclave Press Briefing

New Delhi, July 16, 2026: A high-energy press briefing on Day 1 of the FAITH Conclave 2026 reinforced a unified roadmap to unlock India’s tourism economy under the theme “Incredible India: Invaluable Economics.”

The press meet, moderated with characteristic flair by the omnipresent Mr. Aashish Gupta, Consulting CEO of FAITH, kept the proceedings lively and engaging, drawing out crisp insights from industry stalwarts while ensuring the conversation remained focused on actionable outcomes for the sector.

Puneet Chhatwal, Chairman of FAITH and Managing Director & CEO of IHCL, announced that the second edition has returned with significantly higher participation, stronger sponsorship, and a more influential line-up, reflecting the industry’s growing confidence in the platform. The presence of WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara, he noted, underscores the conclave’s expanding global relevance. Chhatwal revealed that distinguished speakers including Anupam Kher, Shailesh Lodha, and Boman Irani have been brought in to widen the conversation, making this year’s conclave “bigger, better, and more focused” on highlighting tourism’s economic contribution.

This year’s conclave has sharpened its focus on policy advocacy, positioning tourism as a key economic driver. Chhatwal confirmed that FAITH’s previous white paper was submitted to the Prime Minister and key ministries, with several recommendations finding place in NITI Aayog’s tourism proposals. A fresh white paper incorporating this year’s deliberations will be submitted post-conclave, and he acclaimed the ministry for agreeing to meet quarterly.

Drawing a lighter parallel, Chhatwal traced tourism’s progression alongside the Indian film industry—from the 1950-60s focus on “roti, kapda, makaan” resulting in limited travel, to the 1990s DDLJ era, and now the “Zolo factor” driving unprecedented numbers.

Mr. Bajaj, Vice Chairperson of FAITH, reiterated the organization’s commitment to sustainable tourism practices and the TOP (Tourism-Oriented Policy) approach to solutions. Secretary Rajeev Mehra was praised as the backbone of FAITH, credited with the able management of the event.

Ved Khanna of ADTOI expressed optimism about tourism growth while emphasizing balance between inbound and outbound traffic. He highlighted the strength of the 11-member FAITH team, each bringing distinct expertise, and commended government initiatives like the PRASHAD scheme for pilgrimage tourism.

IATO President Ravi Gosain stressed the need for educating masses about making cities cleaner and safer, citing Sikkim as a success story while announcing an upcoming cleanliness drive in Madhya Pradesh. TAAI President Sunil Kumar spoke about the sector’s remarkable resilience post-COVID, while TAFI President Abbaz Moiz emphasized tourism as an interconnected ecosystem with vital contributions from inbound, outbound, and domestic segments working together.

Vikram Lalvani, Chairman of AIRDA, pointed out that easier accessibility, robust highways, self-drive ease, and expanding airports have resulted in multiple holidays per year becoming the new norm—delivering better total annual revenue compared to the earlier single yearly holiday pattern.

Throughout the session, Mr. Aashish Gupta’s adept moderation ensured that every voice was heard, questions were crisply addressed, and the industry’s collective vision for a tourism-led economic transformation remained the central narrative.