The Union Budget 2026-27 focuses on using tourism to create jobs and grow local economies. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a pilot scheme to upskill 10,000 guides at 20 iconic tourist sites. The guides will undergo a 12-week hybrid training in partnership with an Indian Institute of Management. Also, a National Institute of Hospitality will be set up by upgrading the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology. “It will function as a bridge between academia, industry and the government,” said Ms. Sitharaman. A National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid will be created to digitally document cultural, spiritual, and historic places. This will generate jobs for researchers, historians, content creators, and tech partners. To boost tourism in the Northeast, a scheme will develop Buddhist circuits in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. The scheme also aims to preserve temples and monasteries to highlight the region’s spiritual heritage. The budget allocation for tourism dipped slightly from ₹2,541.06 crore in 2025-26 to ₹2,438 crore in 2026-27. Cultural heritage will get a boost by developing 15 archaeological sites like Lothal, Dholavira, and Sarnath into vibrant tourist spots with curated walkways and immersive storytelling. Eco-friendly tourism trails will be developed in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and other regions offering trekking, hiking, and bird-watching experiences. While the industry appreciated the focus on upskilling and new trails, some leaders like Rajiv Mehra from FAITH expressed disappointment over the lack of clear budget support for international tourism promotion. He said, “Strengthening India’s visibility in global markets and measures for soft branding are critical to accelerating inbound tourism.”