Upcoming Seminar on “Incredible India: Developing Basic Tourism Infrastructure”

Event Overview

The Foundation for Aviation & Sustainable Tourism (FAST), in collaboration with the Tourism Bureau, Government of India, organized a seminar on the theme “Incredible India: Developing Basic Tourism Infrastructure” at the India International Centre, New Delhi.

The seminar focused on strengthening tourism infrastructure across India and positioning the country as a globally competitive and sustainable tourism destination. It brought together policymakers, industry stakeholders, tourism experts and representatives from various government departments to deliberate on strategies for infrastructure development and destination enhancement.

Inaugural Session

The seminar was inaugurated by senior representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The opening address emphasized the critical importance of infrastructure development in supporting tourism growth and enhancing visitor experience.

Key speakers highlighted the Government of India’s vision to promote world-class tourism infrastructure and create iconic destinations through public-private collaboration.

Key Themes & Discussions

The seminar centered around the urgent need to develop basic and advanced tourism infrastructure across major destinations in India. The following key areas were discussed:

• Development of basic tourism infrastructure such as roads, sanitation, connectivity and amenities

• Promotion of cultural heritage and preservation of iconic tourist sites

• Enhancing tourist attractions through sustainable infrastructure development

• Leveraging public-private partnerships for infrastructure growth

• Ensuring safety, cleanliness, accessibility and visitor satisfaction

Speakers underlined that infrastructure is central to improving the overall travel experience—from entry and exit points to accommodation, interpretation centres and visitor facilities.

Government Initiatives Highlighted

During the discussions, several government initiatives were referenced, including:

• The creation of special tourism zones to promote world-class infrastructure

• The “Adopt a Heritage” scheme, aimed at engaging private sector participation in heritage site development

• Identification of iconic tourist destinations for focused infrastructure enhancement under national development plans

These initiatives were presented as strategic steps toward transforming India into a world-class tourism destination.

Industry & Stakeholder Participation

The seminar witnessed participation from:

• Tour operators and travel associations

• Hospitality sector representatives

• Aviation and infrastructure stakeholders

• Government officials from tourism-related departments

• Policy experts and industry practitioners

Participants collectively emphasized the need for coordinated efforts between central and state governments, industry bodies and private stakeholders.

Key Takeaways

The seminar concluded with a strong consensus on the following:

• Infrastructure development is fundamental to tourism growth

• Visitor experience must be central to all planning initiatives

• Sustainable and responsible tourism practices must guide infrastructure expansion

• Public-private partnerships are essential for scaling development

• India must focus on integrated planning to achieve global tourism competitiveness

The event reinforced FAST’s role as a platform for structured dialogue, policy discussion and collaborative engagement across the aviation and tourism sectors.

Conclusion

The seminar reaffirmed that strengthening tourism infrastructure is not only critical for enhancing visitor experience but also essential for positioning India as a leading global tourism destination.

Through events such as this, FAST continues to support informed discussion, strategic planning and sustainable growth across the tourism ecosystem.