Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Government of India, while speaking on sustainability challenges in the tourism sector, urged the industry to collaborate with the government. “Until and unless it becomes everybody’s business, we will not be able to solve this problem,” said the minister at Tourism Sustainability Summit 2025, organised by PHDCCI in collaboration with FH&RA, with the theme Mainstreaming Sustainability in Tourism held today at Hotel Le Meridien.
He added that the tourism sector’s situation and conditions present both opportunities and challenges. 10-15 years ago, when it was discussed that climate impact would be a big challenge, people neither took it seriously nor acted upon it; the adverse consequences of that are evident today. “The challenge of climate change is now knocking on our door—rainfall patterns are changing, glaciers are shrinking, and glacier lakes are increasing. If timely action had been taken, the situation could have been better. The same situation now exists in tourism, and we need to act. Let us pledge to convert this into action after identifying our responsibilities and work in tandem toward the sustainability goal in the tourism sector,” Shekhawat added.
At Davos, it was also discussed that the Indian economy will double every 7-8 years, as per estimates. In such a scenario, tourism in India is set to grow at a rapid pace because the growth of the economy and tourism are interconnected.
Mr Suman Billa (IAS), Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, emphasised the need to design tourism growth mindfully. He added that tourism is a rapidly growing sector and that the industry is at the beginning of a long-term growth cycle for tourism and hospitality. He stated, “Growth itself is not the challenge, but rather the direction in which it progresses. Tourism should not be viewed merely as an economic activity but as a shared responsibility.” Referring to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Mission LiFE initiative, he spoke about the need to shift from a paradigm of mindless consumption to mindful living. “The Ministry of Tourism has launched sustainability criteria under ‘Travel for LiFE,’ which promotes a community of green travellers. Further, Mr Billa emphasised that if sustainability is the goal, there is a need to rethink the approach by building resilient, inclusive, and future-ready infrastructure.”
He further highlighted the importance of community engagement and creating livelihoods through tourism for these communities. Lastly, the involvement of the private sector, businesses, and the adoption of technology in driving sustainable tourism growth.
Mr Sheo Shekhar Shukla (IAS), Principal Secretary (Tourism) & Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Government of Madhya Pradesh, informed that Madhya Pradesh has a Responsible Tourism vertical within its state department. He highlighted that the state is home to 498 State Protected Monuments, 290 ASI Protected Monuments, and 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, establishing it as a significant historical and cultural destination. Further, he mentioned that efforts are underway to develop 50 new destinations and 20 cultural sites to enhance the tourism landscape.
Speaking on environmental aspects, he stated, Madhya Pradesh has the highest forest cover (25%) in India, 12 national parks, nine tiger reserves, and three biosphere reserves. Emphasizing the growth of spiritual and religious tourism, the state is home to the Narmada, one of the world’s oldest rivers, and comprises five cultural zones. With this, the state also focuses on eco-tourism, tribal tourism, and rural tourism.
Mr. Hemant Jain, President, PHDCCI said, “Sustainability is no longer a choice or an option—it is our responsibility now. If we do not make our hotels sustainable and more green-compliant today, we will lose a significant part of the market. Initiatives like this and sincere efforts towards sustainability will further strengthen India’s position in this sector. I’m sure this summit will be known as one of the most impactful initiatives of 2025, because in the future, if we are not sustainable, we will not be in business.”
Mr Manjeev Singh Puri, Chair, India-Nepal Centre, PHDCCI & Distinguished Fellow, TERI, urged everyone to internalise sustainability in their organisations, emphasising the need for climate-proofing and building resilience. Our lifestyle in India has always been aligned with sustainability, and as we progress in tourism, let us not forget that sustainability is what will keep resources ready for future generations. Every single one of us must act, as India has a national commitment to a net-zero target by 2070.
Mr Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (UK), discussed that we have significant sustainability and human rights issues present in our industry. “We need to act collectively as an industry. We need to think about the workforce and not just focus on serving the customer. He further informed that ‘overtourism’ was the word of the year in the Oxford Dictionary in 2018. However, tourism holds great potential, and the sustainability revolution is crucial. There needs to be legislative change, shareholder demand, community interest, consumer demand, and employee welfare. Enabling every hotel to operate responsibly and grow sustainably, the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance brings together engaged hospitality companies and the wider hospitality value chain, along with strategic partners, to address key challenges affecting the planet, people, and places around the world.”
Mr K Syama Raju, President, FHRAI, discussed the importance of sustainability in tourism and the contributions made by the industry alliance. “It is a highly gratifying moment to organize the second edition of the summit in collaboration with PHDCCI. While tourism continues to grow, it also presents significant challenges. The need to ensure that tourism is not just an economic driver but also a catalyst for social change, and would like to ensure collective efforts toward a greener and more inclusive future.”