New Delhi: Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasised the Government’s commitment to reforms and to making India a globally competitive tourism destination. He underlined the importance of continuous engagement with industry stakeholders to identify regulatory bottlenecks and facilitate sustainable sectoral growth through greater ease of doing business.
Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, highlighted the need for simplification of the hotel classification system by shifting from inspection-based assessment to a self-declaration-based assessment, reducing checklist items and mandatory certification requirements in a time-bound manner to reduce regulatory burdens. These proposals were appreciated by industry representatives.
Participants emphasised the importance of maintaining a globally competitive business environment for tourism enterprises. Discussions covered opportunities for rationalisation of visa processes and taxation frameworks, facilitation of investments through simplified clearances, defining timelines for licenses, onboarding line Ministries and States/UTs for speedy implementation of reforms, and development of tourism infrastructure to support sustained sectoral growth. Industry stakeholders also highlighted the importance of enhanced destination marketing and promotion to further elevate India’s visibility in key international markets.
The meeting witnessed extensive deliberations on improving the ease of setting up and operating tourism businesses. Suggestions focused on streamlining approvals and clearances, reducing compliance burdens, promoting digital governance solutions and encouraging greater convergence among regulatory frameworks. Stakeholders appreciated the Government’s ongoing efforts towards simplification and recommended further measures to strengthen investor confidence and improve operational efficiency.