**Executive Summary**
The Union Budget 2026-27 proposes several schemes aimed at boosting tourism in India. These initiatives include establishing regional medical hubs, upgrading hospitality infrastructure, upskilling tourist guides, developing archaeological sites and Buddhist circuits, and establishing a national destination digital knowledge grid. The objective is to promote medical tourism, create employment opportunities, and expand the local economy.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Medical Tourism:**
* A scheme to support states in establishing five Regional Medical Hubs in partnership with the private sector.
* These hubs will be integrated healthcare complexes with AYUSH Centres, Medical Value Tourism Facilitation Centres, and infrastructure for diagnostics, post-care, and rehabilitation.
* **Hospitality and Skill Development:**
* Establishment of a National Institute of Hospitality by upgrading the existing National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology.
* A pilot scheme to upskill 10,000 guides in 20 iconic tourist sites through a standardized, high-quality 12-week training course in hybrid mode, in collaboration with an IIM.
* **Heritage and Culture Tourism:**
* Development of 15 archaeological sites, including Lothal, Dholavira and Rakhigarhi, into experiential cultural destinations with curated walkways.
* Establishment of a National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid to digitally document significant cultural, spiritual, and heritage sites.
* **Regional Development:**
* Development of Buddhist circuits in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.
* Development of an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor with a node at Durgapur, including creation of 5 tourism destinations in the 5 Purvodaya States, and the provision of 4,000 e-buses.
* **Sustainable Tourism:**
* Development of ecologically sustainable mountain trails, turtle trails, and bird-watching trails in various states.
* **International Collaboration:**
* India is hosting the first Global Big Cat Summit in 2024, where 95 range countries will discuss collective strategies for conservation.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments**
* **Impact**: Opportunity to develop medical hubs and tourist circuits, potentially increasing revenue and creating jobs.
* **Action Required**: Collaborate with the central government and private sector to establish medical hubs and develop tourism infrastructure.
**Stakeholder: Healthcare Professionals**
* **Impact**: Increased job opportunities in the new medical hubs.
* **Action Required**: Prepare for potential employment opportunities in the expanding medical tourism sector.
**Stakeholder: Tourist Guides**
* **Impact**: Opportunity to upskill and improve services.
* **Action Required**: Participate in the proposed training program to enhance skills and knowledge.
**Stakeholder: Local Communities**
* **Impact**: Potential for economic growth and increased employment through tourism development.
* **Action Required**: Engage with tourism initiatives and support sustainable tourism practices.
**Stakeholder: Tourism Industry (Hotels, Caterers, etc.)**
* **Impact**: Business expansion due to increased tourism.
* **Action Required**: Expand facilities to accommodate increased tourists.
Key Entities Referenced
Union Budget 2026-27: The fiscal plan containing proposals related to tourism and other sectors.
Scheme to support States in establishing Five Regional Medical Hubs: A proposed scheme within the Union Budget to support states in creating regional medical hubs to promote medical tourism.
National Institute of Hospitality: A proposed institute to be set up by upgrading the existing National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology.
Scheme for Development of Buddhist Circuits: A proposed scheme for the development of Buddhist circuits in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.
Ministry of Finance: The government ministry responsible for the Union Budget and related financial policies.
Ministry of Finance
UNION BUDGET 2026-27 PROPOSES A
SCHEME TO SUPPORT STATES IN
ESTABLISHING FIVE REGIONAL MEDICAL HUBS
TO PROMOTE MEDICAL TOURISM
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HOSPITALITY PROPOSED TO BE
SET UP BY UPGRADING THE EXISTING NATIONAL COUNCIL
FOR HOTEL MANAGEMENT AND CATERING TECHNOLOGY
PILOT SCHEME PROPOSED FOR UPSKILLING 10,000
GUIDES IN 20 ICONIC TOURIST SITES THROUGH A
STANDARDIZED, HIGH-QUALITY 12-WEEK TRAINING
COURSE
15 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PROPOSED TO BE
DEVELOPED; EXCAVATED LANDSCAPES WILL BE OPENED
TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH CURATED WALKWAYS
SCHEME FOR DEVELOPMENT OF BUDDHIST CIRCUITS IN
ARUNACHAL PRADESH, SIKKIM, ASSAM, MANIPUR,
MIZORAM AND TRIPURA PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET
प्रव तथ: 01 FEB 2026 12:46PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union
Budget 2026-27 in Parliament said, “To promote India as a hub for medical tourism services, I propose to
launch a Scheme to support States in establishing five Regional Medical Hubs, in partnership with the
private sector.”
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman stated that these Hubs will serve as integrated healthcare complexes that
combine medical, educational and research facilities. She also added “They will have AYUSH Centres,
Medical Value Tourism Facilitation Centres and infrastructure for diagnostics, post-care and rehabilitation.
These Hubs will provide diverse job opportunities for health professionals including doctors and AHPs.”
Tourism
The Finance Minister said, “The Tourism sector has the potential to play a large role in employment
generation, forex earnings and expanding the local economy.”She said, “I propose to set up a National Institute of Hospitality by upgrading the existing National
Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology. It will function as a bridge between academia,
industry and the Government.”
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman proposed a pilot scheme for
upskilling 10,000 guides in 20 iconic tourist sites through a standardized, high-quality 12-week training
course in hybrid mode, in collaboration with an Indian Institute of Management.”
She also stated, “A National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid will be established to digitally document
all places of significance—cultural, spiritual and heritage. This initiative will create a new ecosystem of
jobs for local researchers, historians, content creators and technology partners.”
The Finance Minister said, “India has the potential and opportunity to offer world-class trekking and
hiking experience. We will develop ecologically sustainable (i) Mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh,
Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir; Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats and Podhigai Malai in the
Western Ghats. (ii) Turtle Trails along key nesting sites in the coastal areas 14 of Odisha, Karnataka and
Kerala; and (iii) Bird watching trails along the Pulikat lake in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.”
She further said, “Under the visionary leadership of Honorable Prime Minister, we established the
International Big Cat Alliance in 2024. This year, India is hosting the first ever Global Big Cat Summit,
where heads of governments and ministers from 95 range countries will deliberate on collective strategies
for conservation.”
Heritage and Culture Tourism
Speaking on the theme of Heritage and Culture Tourism, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to develop 15
archaeological sites including Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Adichanallur, Sarnath, Hastinapur, and Leh
Palace into vibrant, experiential cultural destinations”.
She further said “Excavated landscapes will be opened to the public through curated walkways. Immersive
storytelling skills and technologies will be introduced to help conservation labs, interpretation centres, and
guides.”Focus on the Purvodaya States and the North-Eastern Region
Speaking on Purvodaya Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman stated, “I propose the development of an integrated East
Coast Industrial Corridor with a well-connected node at Durgapur, creation of 5 tourism destinations in the
5 Purvodaya States, and the provision of 4,000 e-buses.”
Speaking about Buddhist Sites in North-Eastern Region, she said that the North-Eastern Region is a
civilizational confluence of Theravada and 18 Mahayana/Vajrayana traditions.
The Finance Minister further proposed to launch a Scheme for Development of Buddhist Circuits in
Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. The Scheme will cover preservation
of temples and monasteries, pilgrimage interpretation centers, connectivity and pilgrim amenities.”
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