The All India Resort Development Association (AIRDA) has called for a destination-led approach to tourism development, urging policymakers to move beyond individual hospitality assets and adopt integrated planning that combines infrastructure, investment, connectivity and destination management.
Speaking at the FAITH Tourism Conclave 2026, AIRDA Chairman Vikram Lalvani said India’s tourism potential can be unlocked through policies that treat domestic leisure tourism as economic infrastructure capable of driving regional development, employment and private investment.
Addressing the panel discussion on “Building a Seamless Tourism Ecosystem for India,” Lalvani highlighted the role of vacation ownership and organised leisure hospitality in creating recurring demand, supporting regional economies and improving the commercial viability of emerging tourism destinations.
Citing India’s 2.95 billion domestic tourist visits in 2024, he stressed the need for destination-specific policy frameworks, noting that wildlife, wellness, pilgrimage, heritage and remote leisure destinations require differentiated infrastructure, environmental and operational support.
LalvaniLalvani also pointed to the Centre’s Swadesh Darshan 2.0 programme, under which 53 tourism projects worth ₹2,208.31 crore have been sanctioned, as a positive step towards destination-centric tourism development.
He advocated for improved last-mile connectivity, faster project approvals, sustainability-linked incentives and stronger public-private partnerships to accelerate investment across emerging leisure markets while supporting local employment and supply chains.
AIRDA, the industry’s representative body for the vacation ownership, resort development and mixed-use hospitality sector, said it will continue to work with government and industry stakeholders to promote sustainable destination development, policy reforms and consumer trust.
