With rising U.S. tariffs, India invests in one of its most promising sectors: tourism. Former G20 Sherpa and ex-NITI Aayog chief Amitabh Kant told a tourism conclave in New Delhi that “there is no other sector to beat Trumpian tariff than travel and tourism.” He urged the government to commit at least ₹20,000 crore (about $2.3 billion) in India tourism investment to grow the “Incredible India” global marketing campaign.
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Tourism to Offset Trade Losses from U.S. Tariffs
Kant positioned tourism as a strategic shield against the U.S. tariff impact on India, suggesting it could “more than compensate” for export losses by bringing in foreign exchange and creating jobs.
He cited World Travel and Tourism Council projections that the industry could generate 63 million jobs, reinforcing how the Indian economy’s tourism sector could absorb disruptions from trade tensions.
Reform Push for India Tourism Growth 2025
Beyond marketing, Kant called for sweeping changes to unlock India’s tourism potential. He proposed rationalizing GST into just two slabs, improving urban infrastructure, boosting cleanliness, and encouraging private sector participation.
Urging a shift away from low-value travel, he emphasized: “Don’t go for garbage tourism, go for high-value tourism.” He also advocated creating a tourism board run by private experts, arguing “the government… had no business being involved in the business of tourism.”
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Promoting Indian Brands to Elevate Image
At the same event, Suman Billa from the Ministry of Tourism suggested India leverage iconic homegrown brands like Royal Enfield and Fabindia to enhance its global image—turning cultural soft power into tourism momentum.
Underlining the ambition, FAITH (Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality) presented its “Tourism Vision 2047” roadmap: double tourism’s share of GDP from 5% to 10%, lure 100 million international visitors, generate 20 billion domestic trips, and create 200 million tourism‑related jobs by India’s 100th Independence anniversary.
Kant warned, “It’s important to win the war in the long term irrespective of whether we may lose the battle in the short term. Attack Trumpism with travel and tourism,” urging the sector to turn trade adversity into economic opportunity.
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*Banner photo by Aditya Siva on Unsplash
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