Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) year-end outlook shared by Chairperson Mrs. Jyoti Mayal

India’s tourism and hospitality sector concluded 2025 on a resilient note, marking a year of steady revival, structural reforms, and new growth opportunities.

2025 Performance Highlights
- The sector showed resilient recovery despite global uncertainties.
- Domestic tourism surged, driven by festive travel, spiritual circuits, adventure trips, and micro-vacations.
- Several states reported double-digit growth in tourist footfall.
- India’s G20 legacy boosted inbound awareness from Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Challenges Faced
- Global economic volatility impacted long-haul inbound travel.
- Rising aviation fuel prices led to higher airfares, dampening sentiment.
- Persistent shortage of trained manpower in tourism, hospitality, and aviation-linked services.

Government & Industry Interventions
- E-visa facilitation and Swadesh Darshan 2.0 infrastructure upgrades.
- Targeted skilling programs under THSC to address workforce gaps.
- Public–private partnerships and better-aligned tourism–aviation policies helped stabilize growth.

Outlook for 2026
- Three major drivers:
1. Continued dominance of domestic travel.
2. Accelerated hospitality infrastructure investments in emerging hubs.
3. Urgent need for specialized skilling in sustainable tourism, digital hospitality, culinary innovation, and experiential travel.
- Rising aspirations among young travellers and India’s positioning as a value-driven, culturally rich destination will expand the global footprint.

Mrs. Jyoti Mayal’s Vision
> “2025 was a defining year for Indian tourism—where resilience met transformation. The momentum we have gained this year will significantly shape India’s global tourism footprint in 2026.”

✨ This outlook underscores how skilling, technology adoption, and policy alignment are becoming the backbone of India’s tourism growth story.