Executive Summary
The BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, held under India’s 2026 Chairship in Jaipur, concluded on August 21, 2026, with the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration. This communique provides a strategic framework for strengthening tourism cooperation among member states, focusing on resilience, innovation, and sustainability. Key upcoming activities include ministerial visits to Jaipur’s heritage sites on August 22, 2026, to promote cultural exchange.
Key Points / Main Content
Thematic Priorities and Framework
The Jaipur Declaration identifies four central pillars for cooperation: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Tourism, Sustainability and Responsible Tourism, Tourism Skilling and Capacity Building, and Tourism Exchanges with Seamless Travel Facilitation.
The meeting followed the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Technological and Digital Integration
The communique recognizes the transformative potential of responsible, human-centered AI and digital technologies.
Cooperation will focus on utilizing technology for tourism planning, destination management, visitor services, and multilingual communication.
Sustainable Development and Heritage
Emphasis is placed on community-centered tourism and the protection of natural and cultural heritage.
The framework promotes investment in tourism infrastructure and the development of diverse tourism products.
Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing
Member states committed to continuous skilling and upskilling through industry-academia partnerships.
The agreement facilitates the exchange of tourism data, statistics, and best practices to strengthen people-to-people connectivity.
Diplomatic and Cultural Engagement
India conducted bilateral meetings with Brazil, Iran, South Africa, and the UAE to advance specific tourism cooperation.
The meeting showcased traditional arts, crafts, and community-based initiatives to international delegates.
Impact Analysis
BRICS Member StatesImpact: These nations are now part of a unified framework (the Jaipur Declaration) aimed at aligning tourism policies and fostering mutual economic growth through the sector.
Action Required: States must cooperate on tourism planning, share statistical data, and implement best practices for seamless travel and digital integration.
Local Communities and ArtisansImpact: Tourism is identified as a tool for economic growth in remote regions, creating opportunities for farmers, weavers, artisans, and small entrepreneurs.
Action Required: Local stakeholders are encouraged to participate in community-based tourism initiatives and preserve cultural heritage to benefit from increased international visibility.
Tourism Industry Professionals (Hotels, Guides, and Operators)Impact: The sector will see a shift toward technologically enabled and environmentally responsible ecosystems, requiring new competencies.
Action Required: Service providers must engage in continuous skilling and upskilling programs and adopt digital tools for destination management and visitor services.
Academic and Training InstitutionsImpact: There is a renewed focus on the link between education and the tourism industry to address capacity gaps.
Action Required: Institutions need to form partnerships with the tourism industry to develop relevant training programs for the evolving workforce.
Key Entities Referenced
Jaipur Declaration (BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Communiqué 2026): A framework adopted by BRICS member states to strengthen tourism cooperation through priorities like AI, sustainability, and skilling.
BRICS Tourism Working Group: The primary group responsible for identifying the thematic priorities and undertaking the preliminary work reflected in the Jaipur Declaration.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Union Minister for Culture and Tourism who chaired the meeting and led the Indian delegation.
Jaipur: The host city for the BRICS Tourism Ministers' Meeting and the primary location central to the adoption of the communiqué.
Viksit Bharat by 2047: India’s strategic development vision mentioned as a goal that the tourism sector aims to support through economic growth.
Ministry of Tourism
BRICS Tourism Ministers adopt Jaipur
Declaration (Ministers’ Communique)
“Tourism connects people; it creates opportunities for
communities and enables cultural exchange”: Shri Gajendra
Singh Shekhawat
प्रव तथ: 21 AUG 2026 6:28PM by PIB Delhi
The BRICS Tourism Ministers ’Meeting under India’s Chairship concluded in Jaipur today with the
adoption of the BRICS Tourism Ministers ’Communiqué 2026 (Jaipur Declaration), providing a
framework for strengthening tourism cooperation among BRICS Member States.
The meeting was chaired by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. It
marked the culmination of the BRICS Tourism Track under India’s Chairship in 2026, being taken
forward under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The meeting saw participation from nine BRICS Member States. Ministerial participation included Mr.
Gustavo Costa Feliciando, Minister of Tourism, Brazil; Mr. Reza Salehi Amiri, Minister of Cultural
Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Iran; Ms. Patricia De Lille, Minister of Tourism, South Africa; and
H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, United Arab Emirates, along with
Heads of Delegation from China, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Russia. The Indian delegation included Shri
Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, and Shri Harikishore S., Joint Secretary, Ministry of
Tourism, among other officials.
The Jaipur Declaration reflects the work undertaken through the BRICS Tourism Working Group during
India’s Chairship around four thematic priorities — Artificial Intelligence and Tourism; Sustainability and
Responsible Tourism; Tourism Skilling and Capacity Building; and Tourism Exchanges and SeamlessTravel Facilitation.
The Ministers’ Communique adopted by consensus by BRICS Tourism Ministers recognises the
transformative potential of responsible, safe and human-centred Artificial Intelligence and digital
technologies in tourism and supports cooperation in tourism planning, destination management, visitor
services, multilingual communication and travel facilitation.
It further places emphasis on sustainable and community-centred tourism, protection of natural and
cultural heritage, tourism investment and infrastructure, development and promotion of diverse tourism
products, continuous skilling and upskilling, industry-academia partnerships, exchange of tourism data
and statistics, sharing of best practices and stronger people-to-people connectivity among BRICS Member
States.
Addressing the meeting, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that tourism has an important role in India’s
journey towards Viksit Bharat by 2047 and has the unique ability to take growth beyond major economic
centres to towns, villages and remote regions. He said tourism creates opportunities for hotels and
homestays, taxi operators, guides, artisans, weavers, farmers, entrepreneurs and millions of families whose
livelihoods are directly or indirectly connected with the sector.
The Minister highlighted India’s efforts to build a tourism ecosystem that is economically prosperous,
environmentally responsible, technologically enabled and culturally authentic. He further remarked,
“Tourism ultimately connects people. It creates opportunities for communities, enables cultural exchange
and allows citizens of our countries to understand one another beyond the formal relationships between
governments.”On the sidelines of the Tourism Ministers ’Meeting, India held bilateral meetings with Brazil, Iran, South
Africa and the United Arab Emirates. The engagements provided an opportunity for interaction with the
respective Ministerial delegations and for taking forward tourism cooperation.
A press conference was also held on the BRICS Tourism Track under India’s Chairship, highlighting the
outcomes of the Tourism Ministers ’Meeting and the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration.
Alongside part of Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Jaipur, curated experiences spotlighting traditional arts,
crafts and community-based tourism initiatives were showcased to Ministers and delegates.
On 22 August 2026, the Ministers and delegates will undertake a visit to some of Jaipur’s iconic heritage
attractions, including Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Amber Fort, providing them an opportunity to
experience the city’s rich architectural, cultural and tourism heritage.
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RK
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2302067) आगंतुक पटल : 1020
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