**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tourism organized a two-day National Consultative Workshop in Kevadia, Gujarat, on May 11, 2026, focused on elevating Indian tourist destinations to global standards. The event aimed to align Central and State/UT efforts toward integrated planning, sustainability, and enhanced visitor experiences. Key deliverables discussed include new frameworks for adventure tourism and MICE promotion, alongside state-specific development strategies.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Strategic Vision for Global Standards**
* Focus on developing globally competitive, sustainable, and experience-driven tourism destinations across India.
* Emphasis on a shared vision where the Central Government provides infrastructure support while States/UTs manage integrated planning and destination management.
* Utilization of the Ekta Nagar and Statue of Unity development model as a benchmark for visitor management and sustainability.
**Frameworks and Guidelines**
* Introduction of a "Concept Note on Developing Global Standard Tourist Destinations" to guide integrated planning.
* Development of a proposed National Adventure Tourism Framework.
* Establishment of City Level MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) Promotion Bureau Guidelines.
**Operational and Marketing Enhancements**
* Priority placed on improving the "ease of doing business" within the tourism sector.
* Strengthening collaboration between the Centre and States through the Incredible India Digital Platform and social media for global marketing.
* Commitment to stakeholder participation to realize world-class tourism outcomes.
**State-Specific Initiatives**
* Presentation of destination-specific strategies by Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu.
* Scheduled region-wise presentations for the second day of the workshop to detail further proposals and strategies.
**Impact Analysis**
**State and Union Territory (UT) Administrations**
**Impact:** States are designated as the primary drivers for ground-level execution, focusing on integrated planning and local destination management.
**Action Required:** Develop and present region-wise proposals and strategies; implement sustainability-oriented approaches and improve local "ease of doing business" protocols.
**Ministry of Tourism (Central Government)**
**Impact:** Responsible for providing the overarching policy framework, infrastructure support, and national-level digital marketing platforms.
**Action Required:** Finalize and disseminate the National Adventure Tourism Framework and MICE Promotion Bureau Guidelines while maintaining the Incredible India Digital Platform.
**Industry Stakeholders and Experts**
**Impact:** These groups are essential to the collaborative effort to enhance the tourism ecosystem and deliver high-quality visitor experiences.
**Action Required:** Participate in consultative deliberations and align private-sector initiatives with the government’s global competitiveness and sustainability goals.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The primary central authority organizing the workshop and overseeing the development of globally competitive and sustainable tourism destinations in India.
Developing Global Standard Tourist Destinations: The central initiative and concept note focused on integrated planning, infrastructure development, and enhancing visitor experiences to meet international standards.
National Adventure Tourism Framework: A proposed policy framework discussed for the structured development and regulation of adventure tourism in the country.
City Level MICE Promotion Bureau Guidelines: Guidelines aimed at establishing specialized bureaus to promote Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism at the local city level.
Kevadia, Gujarat: The central location for the workshop, cited as a key development model featuring the Ekta Nagar and Statue of Unity projects.
Ministry of Tourism
National Consultative Workshop and Review
Meeting on “Developing Tourist Destinations to
Global Standards”
Posted On: 11 MAY 2026 7:35PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasised that while the Central
Government will continue to extend support for tourism infrastructure and destination development,
States/UTs must also actively contribute through integrated planning, destination management, ease of
doing business, sustainability and stakeholder participation to realise the shared vision of world-class
tourism destinations.
He presided over the National Consultative Workshop on “Developing Tourist Destinations to Global
Standards,” held at Kevadia, Gujarat.
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India organised the two-day workshop, bringing together senior
officials from the Ministry, States/UT Administrations, industry stakeholders and experts to deliberate on
development of globally competitive, sustainable and experience-driven tourism destinations across the
country.The workshop began with opening remarks by Shri Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & Director
General (Tourism), followed by an address by Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism.
Minister of State for Tourism Shri Suresh Gopi also addressed the participants and highlighted the
importance of collaborative efforts towards strengthening India’s tourism ecosystem and enhancing
tourism experiences across destinations.
A key session during the workshop included presentation of the Concept Note on “Developing Global
Standard Tourist Destinations” by Shri Suvasish Das, Joint Secretary (Destination Development Division),
Ministry of Tourism, followed by discussions with States/UTs on integrated destination planning, tourism
infrastructure, sustainability, destination management and enhancement of visitor experience.
The workshop also featured a presentation on the tourism development model of Ekta Nagar and Statue of
Unity, highlighting integrated planning, visitor management and sustainability-oriented destination
development approaches.
Technical sessions held during the day focused on the proposed National Adventure Tourism Framework,
ease of doing business in the tourism sector, City Level MICE Promotion Bureau Guidelines and
strengthening State collaboration for tourism marketing and promotion through the Incredible India
Digital Platform and social media.
As part of the workshop, select States also made presentations on development of globally competitive
tourist destinations. Presentations during the first phase were made by Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, QGujarat,
Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu, highlighting destination-specific strategies,
tourism infrastructure initiatives and sustainable tourism approaches.
The second day of the workshop will include further region-wise presentations by States/UTs on proposals
and strategies for development of globally competitive tourism destinations.
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M. Annadurai
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