Recent Current Affairs related to Tourism

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the National Culture Fund (NCF), and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the conservation and development of heritage sites.

HAL has approved financial support worth ₹23.60 crore until the FY29 to preserve these heritage sites, enhance visitor amenities, and promote sustainable heritage tourism.

World Tourism Day

Day - September 27

Theme 2026 - “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism”

Observed by - UN World Tourism Organisation

Observed since - 1980

Host - El Salvador

The Odisha government has launched the first digital portal in India for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism.

The platform is designed to streamline incentive applications and facilitate approvals to position the state as a premier destination for corporate events.

According to the 10th edition of the “Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI 2026): Insight Report September 2026” released by the World Economic Forum (WEF), India is ranked 31st with an overall score of 4.42.

Japan is ranked top with a score of 5.27, followed by the USA, Spain, Australia, and France. Mali is ranked at the bottom of the index with a score of 2.75.

The 2nd India-Italy Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on tourism was held in New Delhi. During the meeting, both countries agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector.

Both nations also agreed to establish focused technical groups and designated points of contact to further advance bilateral tourism cooperation.

The Ministry of Tourism has partnered with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to develop the ‘National Digital Tourism Stack’.

Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat launched the project at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi to mark World Tourism Day on September 27. The initiative aims to bring 23,000 tourism experiences and homestays on board to make them discoverable, trustable, and bookable by the end of 2028, with the support of the International Centre for DPI Innovation and Advancement (ICDIA).

Vinai Kumar Saxena, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, has designated Kumik village as the first Heritage Village of the region during the 11th Ladakh Zanskar Festival 2026 held in Zanskar Valley.

The heritage status was conferred in recognition of the historical and cultural assets of the village, including Buddhist manuscripts, traditional architecture, and preserved cultural practices.

The BRICS Youth Council Meeting and BRICS Youth Summit 2026 were held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The events were organised by the Department of Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

The Ministry of Tourism also hosted the second BRICS 2026 Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting in Jaipur, Rajasthan, chaired by Bhuvnesh Kumar, the Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism.

The central government has notified 11 additional international ports (9 land ports and 2 airports) to allow entry for e-Visa holders.

With this, the total number of designated e-Visa entry ports in India has increased to 88, which includes 37 airports, 38 seaports, and 13 land ports. It is to be noted that India processes 95% of e-Visa applications in less than 72 hours.

Bajrang Setu, North India's first glass suspension bridge, has been constructed in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, over the Ganga River.

Replacing the iconic Lakshman Jhula, the 132-meter-long bridge connects Tapovan in Tehri Garhwal and Jonk in Pauri Garhwal.

The Ministry of Tourism has signed an MoU with Air India in New Delhi to promote India as a preferred global tourism destination under the 'Incredible India' brand.

The Ministry of Tourism has signed an MoU with Google India to strengthen the digital promotion of tourism destinations across the country.

The Ministry of Tourism and NITI Aayog have jointly launched a report titled "Unlocking Growth in Tourism and Hospitality Sector: Recommendations for Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms". The report provides 49 recommendations across 14 reform areas to streamline the sector.

The strategic plan aims to expand India's tourism economy to $3 trillion and attract 100 million inbound international visitors by 2047.

It is to be noted that according to the Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI), India ranks 6th globally in Natural Resources and 9th in Cultural Resources. Despite this, India ranks 39th overall on the TTDI and currently accounts for less than 1.5% of global international tourist arrivals.

Suman Bery, the Vice Chairman of the NITI Aayog, has launched an anthology titled “Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India” in New Delhi. The publication aims to showcase the rich cultural heritage and tourism potential of the nation.

The anthology features 3,000 curated entries, comprising 2,100 tourism destinations and 1,200 cultural listings. This initiative supports national efforts and the strategic plan to develop 50 global tourist destinations.