A Proceedings of the Tourism Leadership Summit 2026 – Innovate, Collaborate, Accelerate Growth
The Tourism Leadership Summit 2026 aimed to explore sustainable growth strategies for the
tourism industry. It also focused on public-private partnerships for the development of the
sector that would eventually contribute to the long-term growth of the country. The Summit
was jointly organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and Sankala
Foundation. It was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri C P
Radhakrishnan in the presence of Shri Gajendra Singh Sekhawat, Hon’ble Union Minister,
Tourism and Culture and Shri Bharat Lal, Secretary General, NHRC, India. The summit saw
participation of thought leaders, policymakers and industry experts who focused on
determining how tourism can be a catalyst for economic progress and development.
Discussions highlighted the sector’s potential to grow from US$ 249 billion to US$ 523 billion
by 2034 and support nearly 63 million jobs. Building on Sankala Foundation’s efforts to
promote India’s biodiversity, conservation values, and cultural heritage, the Summit identified
four key priorities: positioning tourism as a driver of national development, promoting
destination-specific infrastructure, strengthening community-led sustainable tourism, and
enhancing governance through a National Tourism Facilitation Framework.
