The second day of the 55th Annual Convention of the Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Association of India (FHRAI) brought together industry leaders and policymakers to discuss the evolving landscape of Indian tourism and hospitality, with a sharp focus on infrastructure, heritage, wellness, and the growing influence of Gen Z travellers.
Sri K. Lakshminarayanan, Tourism Minister, Government of Puducherry, highlighted the significant contribution of tourism to the Union Territory’s economy, noting that Puducherry welcomed around 19 lakh tourists in 2024. The sector generated approximately ₹25,000 crores for the state economy. He further emphasised that large-scale infrastructure development projects are underway to strengthen Puducherry’s position as a leading destination.
Adding to the discussions, Dr. Rajendra, Director of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, underlined Karnataka’s immense tourism potential. He shared that the state is home to more than 25,000 historical and heritage sites, including four UNESCO World Heritage sites and 800 officially notified destinations. He stressed that the new ‘Tourism Policy,’ introduced earlier this year, places a strong emphasis on public-private partnerships to unlock economic opportunities and employment through tourism.
Spiritual tourism emerged as another key theme of the session. Sri Ganesh Pai from ISKCON Bengaluru South noted the growing trend of younger generations seeking spiritual experiences. “Spiritual tourism is all about inclusivity. Earlier, it was mostly the elderly who visited religious places, but today, even travel portals report that 80–90% of searches are for religious destinations. This interest is being driven by Gen Z, who also look to combine spiritual travel with adventure experiences,” he said.
Wellness tourism was highlighted by Dr. Jazzy Nepram, Director of CHI The Spa and Health Club, Shangri-La. She underscored the need for professional training and collaboration to strengthen the wellness sector. “If wellness is to grow and diversify, properties must work with skilled individual practitioners. This collaboration can enhance both revenues and service quality in spa and wellness offerings,” she explained.
Focusing on future talent, Dr. Bhupesh Kumar, Principal-cum-Secretary of the Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Ranchi, stated that Gen Z will play a decisive role in shaping the future of hospitality. He emphasised that employers need to adapt by building polished, skilled teams that can meet the evolving expectations of this new generation of travellers.
The day’s deliberations reinforced the critical role of tourism and hospitality in driving India’s economic growth while showcasing how Gen Z is reshaping trends across spiritual, adventure, and wellness tourism.