Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat graced the WION Iconic Tourism Summit &amp; Awards 2026 in New Delhi on Wednesday as the chief guest and in his address pointed out the misconceptions about travel in India, especially when it comes to solo women travellers, and insisted that isolated incidents should not be allowed to define the experience of millions of tourists visiting and travelling across the country.&nbsp;The minister said that the perception fails to account for the sheer scale of travel in India. Citing billions of domestic trips across the country, he questioned how many complaints involving solo women travellers had been recorded in comparison with that volume, while adding that even a single incident should not happen.&nbsp;<h2>Defends India’s travel safety record, cites advisories for Italy, US, and UK</h2>&nbsp;Shekhawat said the government and states are taking steps to make travel safer and comfortable and have set up dedicated tourist police stations in several states.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Union Minister compared travel advisories issued for destinations like Italy, the US, England and Paris with the way safety concerns are discussed in India.The advisories warn travellers about protecting passports and valuables, avoiding isolated areas after dark and questioned why such warnings do not automatically lead to those countries being broadly described as unsafe.&nbsp;&nbsp;Shekhawat also invoked India’s deep-rooted philosophy of “Atithi Devo Bhava”, saying visitor safety and hospitality remain central.&nbsp;<h2>‘Delhi is changing’: Kapil Mishra invites industry to partner in capital’s transformation</h2>&nbsp;Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra, who was the guest of honour, said Delhi is undergoing a transformation and invited the tourism industry to become a partner in shaping the capital’s future as a global destination. He said the government is looking at ways to create new experiences for visitors and announced that Pitampura Haat would be transformed into a PM Unity Hub, while the Garden of Five Senses is being revamped to make it more appealing.Mishra invited stakeholders from the tourism industry to work with the government on the next phase of Delhi’s tourism growth.&nbsp;Mishra also highlighted Delhi’s diverse historical legacy, and said memorials would be developed to honour figures like Anangpal Tomar and the Jat community.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Delhi is changing,” Mishra said, urging the tourism industry to be part of that transformation and “become a partner” in building the capital’s tourism ecosystem.&nbsp;The WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026, presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications, in New Delhi on Sep 23 brought together key voices from across the tourism ecosystem and the discussions panned around sector’s future, emerging opportunities, evolving trends and the challenges that could shape its growth in the years ahead.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Slovakia ambassador springs surprise with reply in chaste Hindi&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;Robert Maxian, ambassador of Slovakia to India, switched to Hindi at the summit and said that India is his second home.&nbsp;When asked if he could speak Hindi, the Slovak ambassador responded warmly, saying, “Bharat mere liye doosra ghar jaisa hai (India is a second home for me).”&nbsp;Kevin Kelly, Ambassador of Ireland to India, said India has now become a priority market for Tourism Ireland, which has set up an office in Mumbai last year to tap into the growing interest from Indian travellers.Diplomats from Nicaragua, Greece and Sri Lanka also made their points on tourism for their countries as emerging and enduring destinations for Indian travellers, each highlighting unique offerings, from untouched nature and volcanoes to island-hopping and shared civilizational ties.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Year’s most talked-about film, Hanuman Ansh, boosts spiritual tourism</h2>&nbsp;Hanuman Ansh, one of the year’s most talked-about films about Neem Karoro Baba, has significantly boosted the profile of the sacred Kainchi Dham shrine in Uttarakhand.&nbsp;&nbsp;The film’s director, Dr Vishal Chaturvedi, spoke about the movie, foreseeing its success, the overwhelming response it has received and the boost it has given to spiritual tourism. Besides, footfall at other places linked to Neem Karoli Baba has almost increased three-fold after the film’s release.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat pointed out that travel advisories for Italy, the US, UK and Paris warn travellers about protecting passports and valuables, avoiding isolated areas after dark and questioned why these warnings do not make those countries unsafe.

Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat graced the WION Iconic Tourism Summit & Awards 2026 in New Delhi on Wednesday as the chief guest and in his address pointed out the misconceptions about travel in India, especially when it comes to solo women travellers, and insisted that isolated incidents should not be allowed to define the experience of millions of tourists visiting and travelling across the country. The minister said that the perception fails to account for the sheer scale of travel in India. Citing billions of domestic trips across the country, he questioned how many complaints involving solo women travellers had been recorded in comparison with that volume, while adding that even a single incident should not happen. Defends India’s travel safety record, cites advisories for Italy, US, and UK Shekhawat said the government and states are taking steps to make travel safer and comfortable and have set up dedicated tourist police stations in several states. The Union Minister compared travel advisories issued for destinations like Italy, the US, England and Paris with the way safety concerns are discussed in India. The advisories warn travellers about protecting passports and valuables, avoiding isolated areas after dark and questioned why such warnings do not automatically lead to those countries being broadly described as unsafe. Shekhawat also invoked India’s deep-rooted philosophy of “Atithi Devo Bhava”, saying visitor safety and hospitality remain central. ‘Delhi is changing’: Kapil Mishra invites industry to partner in capital’s transformation Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra, who was the guest of honour, said Delhi is undergoing a transformation and invited the tourism industry to become a partner in shaping the capital’s future as a global destination. He said the government is looking at ways to create new experiences for visitors and announced that Pitampura Haat would be transformed into a PM Unity Hub, while the Garden of Five Senses is being revamped to make it more appealing. Mishra invited stakeholders from the tourism industry to work with the government on the next phase of Delhi’s tourism growth. Mishra also highlighted Delhi’s diverse historical legacy, and said memorials would be developed to honour figures like Anangpal Tomar and the Jat community. “Delhi is changing,” Mishra said, urging the tourism industry to be part of that transformation and “become a partner” in building the capital’s tourism ecosystem. The WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026, presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications, in New Delhi on Sep 23 brought together key voices from across the tourism ecosystem and the discussions panned around sector’s future, emerging opportunities, evolving trends and the challenges that could shape its growth in the years ahead. Slovakia ambassador springs surprise with reply in chaste Hindi Robert Maxian, ambassador of Slovakia to India, switched to Hindi at the summit and said that India is his second home. When asked if he could speak Hindi, the Slovak ambassador responded warmly, saying, “Bharat mere liye doosra ghar jaisa hai (India is a second home for me).” Kevin Kelly, Ambassador of Ireland to India, said India has now become a priority market for Tourism Ireland, which has set up an office in Mumbai last year to tap into the growing interest from Indian travellers. Diplomats from Nicaragua, Greece and Sri Lanka also made their points on tourism for their countries as emerging and enduring destinations for Indian travellers, each highlighting unique offerings, from untouched nature and volcanoes to island-hopping and shared civilizational ties. Year’s most talked-about film, Hanuman Ansh, boosts spiritual tourism Hanuman Ansh, one of the year’s most talked-about films about Neem Karoro Baba, has significantly boosted the profile of the sacred Kainchi Dham shrine in Uttarakhand. The film’s director, Dr Vishal Chaturvedi, spoke about the movie, foreseeing its success, the overwhelming response it has received and the boost it has given to spiritual tourism. Besides, footfall at other places linked to Neem Karoli Baba has almost increased three-fold after the film’s release.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat pointed out that travel advisories for Italy, the US, UK and Paris warn travellers about protecting passports and valuables, avoiding isolated areas after dark and questioned why these warnings do not make those countries unsafe.

WION Iconic Tourism Summit 2026 busts travel safety myth, highlights spiritual tourism boost to Kainchi Dham

Vinay Malhotra, Head of Strategic Global Partnerships at VFS Technologies, said that AI have helped significantly with compliance in documentation and tourism by automating repetitive tasks. He said that while people are using AI to fudge the system, VFS Technologies was using AI to tackle synthetic documentation and deepfakes.&nbsp;Vinay said VFS had recently introduced IDP ( Intelligent Document Processing), which uses Generative AI to handle the high volumes of supporting documents required for visa applications more efficiently and consistently. The IDP solution was created in collaboration with the Australian Embassy, and it operates under strict guardrails to maintain security and trust.“We recently created a system called IDP, or intelligent document processing. What this system can do is, if you submit your passport application and you’ve tampered with the passport, the system can detect that something is wrong with the passport. If your flights and hotel details do not match, or there is a mismatch with an application, it will bring that out,” he said.Vinay also described VAYD, “Visa At Your Doorstep,” which brings visa-application services to homes, offices, hotels, and other locations using portable equipment described as a suitcase weighing 10–12 kilos.The service is positioned for large groups, corporate movements, MICE travellers, weddings, medical patients, and people in far-flung areas. VFS said almost 20 governments approve the facility in India and that it has coverage in almost 22 cities in India.VFS said trained professionals can complete the end-to-end application process in 30 minutes, including documentation handling, biometrics, a live photograph, and digital signatures. Data is transferred online to the relevant client government; visa approval remains the government’s prerogative. The service can process a whole family or other large group in one visit. It is available online and is mostly sold to customers by travel agents. Customers may alternatively use visa centres or optional premium services.

Vinay describes how VFS Technologies is using generative AI to detect tampered passports, document mismatches and synthetic documentation in visa applications. 

Vinay Malhotra, Head of Strategic Global Partnerships at VFS Technologies, said that AI have helped significantly with compliance in documentation and tourism by automating repetitive tasks. He said that while people are using AI to fudge the system, VFS Technologies was using AI to tackle synthetic documentation and deepfakes. Vinay said VFS had recently introduced IDP ( Intelligent Document Processing), which uses Generative AI to handle the high volumes of supporting documents required for visa applications more efficiently and consistently. The IDP solution was created in collaboration with the Australian Embassy, and it operates under strict guardrails to maintain security and trust. “We recently created a system called IDP, or intelligent document processing. What this system can do is, if you submit your passport application and you’ve tampered with the passport, the system can detect that something is wrong with the passport. If your flights and hotel details do not match, or there is a mismatch with an application, it will bring that out,” he said. Vinay also described VAYD, “Visa At Your Doorstep,” which brings visa-application services to homes, offices, hotels, and other locations using portable equipment described as a suitcase weighing 10–12 kilos. The service is positioned for large groups, corporate movements, MICE travellers, weddings, medical patients, and people in far-flung areas. VFS said almost 20 governments approve the facility in India and that it has coverage in almost 22 cities in India. VFS said trained professionals can complete the end-to-end application process in 30 minutes, including documentation handling, biometrics, a live photograph, and digital signatures. Data is transferred online to the relevant client government; visa approval remains the government’s prerogative. The service can process a whole family or other large group in one visit. It is available online and is mostly sold to customers by travel agents. Customers may alternatively use visa centres or optional premium services.

Vinay describes how VFS Technologies is using generative AI to detect tampered passports, document mismatches and synthetic documentation in visa applications.&nbsp;

AI helped with documentation, fraud prevention: Vinay Malhotra of VFS technologies

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionised travel and journeys across the globe, making bookings and visa services a unique and easy experience for customers. Vinay Malhotra, Head of Strategic Global Partnerships, VFS Global, highlighted how the deployment of AI has made the process of travel much easier.<h2>AI makes visa processing easier</h2>Speaking at the panel discussion on ‘Tech Frontiers Reshaping the Journey’ at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit &amp; Awards 2026 in New Delhi on Wednesday (Sep 23), Malhotra talked about how AI has made the visa process and other travel-related processes for customers much easier. He also explained that while some people use technology to tamper with passports and other documents, technology deployed by VFS Global can detect any mismatch. He also said that synthetic documents and deepfakes can easily be caught by technology.“We recently created a system called IDP, or intelligent document processing. What this system can do is, if you submit your passport application and you’ve tampered with the passport, the system can detect that something is wrong with the passport. If your flights and hotel details do not match, or there is a mismatch with an application, it will bring that out,” he said. “When we receive a bank statement about 100-15 pages, and the applicant feels, ‘oh nothing can go wrong, and if there is a little mismatch or a tallying error, nobody will find out’. But AI helps us find that out too.”<h2>Why human intervention still matters</h2>Anil Parashar, Executive Director at ITQ Technologies Pvt Ltd, shared why human intervention is necessary while deploying technology.“What technology does is make a travel partner look what they are. What I mean is that it makes them look good with technology, and it makes you look worse with technology. And the question we are all being driven by is: what can technology do? The question we need to be asking is: what technology cannot do? Because what technology cannot do will be done by humans. That strength of humans is only available to humans,” he said.“The role of humans, the role of travel partners, is more relevant today with technology, not less. It is only how we use and we focus on the customer and let the technology do the simple tasks,” Parashar added. “Good technology removes questions and steps in a process. Bad technology adds one more form.”<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-iconic-tourism-summit-tech-frontiers-reshaping-travel-industry-for-smoother-journeys-1790169626866/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-iconic-tourism-summit-tech-frontiers-reshaping-travel-industry-for-smoother-journeys-1790169626866/embed</a><h2>Technology should not create more hurdles</h2>He added that while web check-ins and eGates have made things easier for customers, we need to be cautious about how technology is being brought in.“If you try to bring technology for the sake of technology, you’re going to be in trouble... Technology will work when the other infrastructure is there. You need to have WiFi, a battery in the phone, Bluetooth, and connectivity in remote destinations. We need to be conscious and aware of all of that,” Parashar said. “We are having a big challenge today. In a contactless process, some things are great, no question. But things which are adding to confusion and duplication are a challenge.”“All I’m saying is that technology is great when you take away some steps, but if, in the process of technology, you end up making life difficult for the customer, it is no good,” he said.<h2>AI could connect the entire travel ecosystem</h2>Achin Sharma, Chief Digital Officer, WAISL (GMR Cargo), said, “The biggest difference AI can make is in reducing the friction in the entire journey. In my view, these have been examples of leveraging AI in a rather standalone mode. But AI can actually be leveraged to integrate the entire travel ecosystem.”He further added, “Right now, if you look at the traveller, he visits one site to book his air tickets, generally speaking, and then another website for the hotels, local transport, and so on and so forth. That’s largely the pain that he goes through prior to booking his travel... AI, in my view, can actually integrate this entire value chain in terms of even predicting something might go wrong.”<h2>AI as a support tool for customer service</h2>Abhilash Kalathil Ramesh, Executive Director, Kairali Ayurvedic Group, also talked about how his company has deployed AI. He shared that while his firm prefers customer interactions through human agents, the technology is beneficial for taking customer queries when a human executive is not available at the moment. In this case, AI can step in and inform the customer that a human executive will be available to speak with them soon.The WION Iconic Tourism Summit &amp; Awards 2026, presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications, brings together voices from government, diplomacy, aviation, hospitality and technology to examine the forces reshaping global travel, including mobility, tourism infrastructure, technology and changing traveller expectations.

AI is transforming travel by streamlining visa checks, bookings and customer service. Experts at WION Tourism Summit 2026 discussed AI’s potential while stressing the need for human intervention. now.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionised travel and journeys across the globe, making bookings and visa services a unique and easy experience for customers. Vinay Malhotra, Head of Strategic Global Partnerships, VFS Global, highlighted how the deployment of AI has made the process of travel much easier. AI makes visa processing easier Speaking at the panel discussion on ‘Tech Frontiers Reshaping the Journey’ at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit & Awards 2026 in New Delhi on Wednesday (Sep 23), Malhotra talked about how AI has made the visa process and other travel-related processes for customers much easier. He also explained that while some people use technology to tamper with passports and other documents, technology deployed by VFS Global can detect any mismatch. He also said that synthetic documents and deepfakes can easily be caught by technology. “We recently created a system called IDP, or intelligent document processing. What this system can do is, if you submit your passport application and you’ve tampered with the passport, the system can detect that something is wrong with the passport. If your flights and hotel details do not match, or there is a mismatch with an application, it will bring that out,” he said. “When we receive a bank statement about 100-15 pages, and the applicant feels, ‘oh nothing can go wrong, and if there is a little mismatch or a tallying error, nobody will find out’. But AI helps us find that out too.” Why human intervention still matters Anil Parashar, Executive Director at ITQ Technologies Pvt Ltd, shared why human intervention is necessary while deploying technology. “What technology does is make a travel partner look what they are. What I mean is that it makes them look good with technology, and it makes you look worse with technology. And the question we are all being driven by is: what can technology do? The question we need to be asking is: what technology cannot do? Because what technology cannot do will be done by humans. That strength of humans is only available to humans,” he said. “The role of humans, the role of travel partners, is more relevant today with technology, not less. It is only how we use and we focus on the customer and let the technology do the simple tasks,” Parashar added. “Good technology removes questions and steps in a process. Bad technology adds one more form.” https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-iconic-tourism-summit-tech-frontiers-reshaping-travel-industry-for-smoother-journeys-1790169626866/embed Technology should not create more hurdles He added that while web check-ins and eGates have made things easier for customers, we need to be cautious about how technology is being brought in. “If you try to bring technology for the sake of technology, you’re going to be in trouble... Technology will work when the other infrastructure is there. You need to have WiFi, a battery in the phone, Bluetooth, and connectivity in remote destinations. We need to be conscious and aware of all of that,” Parashar said. “We are having a big challenge today. In a contactless process, some things are great, no question. But things which are adding to confusion and duplication are a challenge.” “All I’m saying is that technology is great when you take away some steps, but if, in the process of technology, you end up making life difficult for the customer, it is no good,” he said. AI could connect the entire travel ecosystem Achin Sharma, Chief Digital Officer, WAISL (GMR Cargo), said, “The biggest difference AI can make is in reducing the friction in the entire journey. In my view, these have been examples of leveraging AI in a rather standalone mode. But AI can actually be leveraged to integrate the entire travel ecosystem.” He further added, “Right now, if you look at the traveller, he visits one site to book his air tickets, generally speaking, and then another website for the hotels, local transport, and so on and so forth. That’s largely the pain that he goes through prior to booking his travel... AI, in my view, can actually integrate this entire value chain in terms of even predicting something might go wrong.” AI as a support tool for customer service Abhilash Kalathil Ramesh, Executive Director, Kairali Ayurvedic Group, also talked about how his company has deployed AI. He shared that while his firm prefers customer interactions through human agents, the technology is beneficial for taking customer queries when a human executive is not available at the moment. In this case, AI can step in and inform the customer that a human executive will be available to speak with them soon. The WION Iconic Tourism Summit & Awards 2026, presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications, brings together voices from government, diplomacy, aviation, hospitality and technology to examine the forces reshaping global travel, including mobility, tourism infrastructure, technology and changing traveller expectations.

AI is transforming travel by streamlining visa checks, bookings and customer service. Experts at WION Tourism Summit 2026 discussed AI’s potential while stressing the need for human intervention. now.

WION Iconic Tourism Summit & Awards 2026: How AI is reshaping visas, bookings and travel, experts share insights

Notable personalities from India’s tourism and hospitality sector, along with senior policymakers, diplomats and industry leaders, came together in New Delhi on September 23 for the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026, presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications.&nbsp;The summit brought together key voices from across the tourism ecosystem to discuss the sector’s future, emerging opportunities, evolving travel trends and challenges that could shape its growth.&nbsp;Panel 3 of the summit, titled ‘The business of travel: Aviation, hospitality &amp; India's tourism infra story’, featured Vikram Lalvani, MD &amp; CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts;&nbsp;&nbsp;Saurabh Tiwari, Vice President, Middle East, Maldives &amp; Sri Lanka, IHCL (Taj Dubai)&nbsp;Manish Puri, Head of Global Sales, Air India Limited &amp; Air India Express&nbsp;Ahmed Hamed Sharbak, Regional Manager (APAC), Visit Qatar&nbsp;Kamal Munasinghe, Sr. Vice President, Colombo Hotels &amp; General Manager, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Sri Lanka&nbsp;Muktesh Pardeshi, Former Secretary and Former Ambassador to Türkiye &amp; New Zealand.<h2>India's tourism growth and changing travel patterns&nbsp;</h2>On whether hotel infrastructure is ready for more Indians travelling abroad,&nbsp;Saurabh Tiwari of IHCL (Taj Dubai)&nbsp;said global hotel chains have little choice but to prepare for the growing number of Indian travellers and their rising disposable incomes.&nbsp;“Global hotels do not have a choice, as Indians are travelling more and more and have disposable income to spend. So we better get ready for the challenge,” Tiwari said.&nbsp;He said Indian travellers are increasingly looking for better experiences as their spending capacity grows.&nbsp;“Indians are looking for great experiences with expanding spending capacity as the country itself is becoming better and better in terms of providing everything. So when Indian tourists go abroad, they expect an even better experience,” Tiwari said.&nbsp;Vikram Lalvani, MD &amp; CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts, spoke about changing travel patterns as Gen Z and Gen Alpha increasingly participate in tourism.&nbsp;“The way the industry is moving is destination-led. In the future generation also, the question remains the same: why do I have to travel to a particular destination? Is the destination worth it? Is it safe enough?” Lalvani said.&nbsp;He said the way different destinations are connected would become increasingly important, with travellers looking for hybrid experiences.&nbsp;“Going forward is how we connect different destinations is important: hybrid experience. Like connecting a heritage town to hill stations like Mount Abu to Udaipur,” Lalvani said.&nbsp;Lalvani also stressed that domestic tourism remains a major driver of India's tourism sector.&nbsp;“If we say tourism is thriving, it is domestic tourism. We should not only focus on international tourism; the industry is thriving because of domestic tourism. After Covid, the first thing that rebounded was domestic tourism,” he said.&nbsp;He also called for India to promote itself as a year-round tourism destination instead of focusing mainly on the months when international tourists traditionally visit.&nbsp;“Our narrative about India can be 360-day tourism should go out to the world beyond November and January, which is known for international tourists,” Lalvani said.<h2>India eyes global aviation hub status as infrastructure expands</h2>Manish Puri, Head of Global Sales, Air India, said India has made significant progress in aviation infrastructure over the past decade as the country seeks to strengthen its position as a global aviation hub.&nbsp;“India is always a chicken-and-egg story. Is the demand come first, or does infra come first? But in the last 10 years, the situation has become better in terms of infra with a new airport at Jewar, in Navi Mumbai and others,” Puri said.&nbsp;He said the large number of aircraft orders placed by Indian carriers for the coming decade would further support the country's aviation growth.&nbsp;“With the number of orders Indian carriers placed in the next 10 years, we are ready to take the world by storm,” Puri said.&nbsp;However, Puri said India needs to improve transit facilities at its airport terminals to compete with major global aviation hubs and airlines.&nbsp;“The transit facility at the terminal is required to get better to compete with the global giants like Etihad, Qatar Airways,” he said.&nbsp;Puri also reflected on the transformation of Air India following its privatisation.&nbsp;“When AI was privatised, people were expecting a magic wand that would wash away every problem with the airline. However, in the last five years we have been able to change. We raised the consumer experience through NPS,” Puri said.&nbsp;<h2>Tourism diplomacy and soft power&nbsp;</h2>Former Indian envoy Muktesh Pardeshi, Former Secretary and Former Ambassador to Türkiye &amp; New Zealand, highlighted the role of tourism diplomacy in strengthening India's economic and international engagement.&nbsp;“Tourism diplomacy is an important part of economic diplomacy. We have a mantra of 3 Ts, that is trade, tourism and technology,” Pardeshi said.&nbsp;He said tourism also contributes to a country's soft power and that a larger number of international tourists could strengthen India's global presence.&nbsp;“Tourism also helps in soft power projection of the country. If we had more tourists as per current level it will significantly enhance soft power,” Pardeshi said.&nbsp;Pardeshi compared India's foreign tourist arrivals with Türkiye, saying Türkiye attracts 65 million tourists while India has remained at around 20 million foreign tourists, including around 10 million NRIs.&nbsp;“To change that, government, industry and civil society need to step up its efforts as India has everything from landscape to heritage,” he said.&nbsp;Reflecting on his experience during India's G20 presidency, Pardeshi said India needs to invest in tourism promotion as well as the creation of social infrastructure.&nbsp;He also stressed the need to improve cleanliness and skills in the tourism sector.&nbsp;“Unless we work on neatness and cleanliness and we fix our issues, India can't realise tourism potential,” Pardeshi said.&nbsp;He also highlighted the lack of skill training among people working in the tourism sector, citing his experience of organising such training during the G20 summit in India.<h2>Qatar, Sri Lanka seek deeper tourism ties with India</h2>Ahmed Hamed Sharbak, Regional Manager (APAC), Visit Qatar, highlighted the long-standing relationship between India and Qatar and called for greater tourism collaboration between the two countries.&nbsp;“We have a long history between India and Qatar. We want collaboration between both countries,” Sharbak said.&nbsp;He said Qatar is looking to attract more family and leisure travellers while also building on its strengths in business and sports tourism.&nbsp;“We are big on tourism with sports, including the soccer World Cup and upcoming Formula 1. We are pushing even for stopover tourists who are only for 24 hours, 48 hours even while transiting to Europe,” he said.&nbsp;Sharbak also highlighted the growing importance of social media in shaping travel experiences.&nbsp;“You gonna spend money when you are going on holiday and document the experience on social media and we provide all of that,” he said.&nbsp;He added that Qatar has visa-on-arrival access for visitors from 100 destinations.&nbsp;Kamal Munasinghe, Sr. Vice President, Colombo Hotels &amp; General Manager, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Sri Lanka, stressed that the tourism relationship between India and Sri Lanka should work both ways and go beyond air connectivity.&nbsp;“For the tourism corridor between both countries, it’s not just about a one-way street. It is a two-way street. We are pushing more connectivity beyond air connectivity, like the recently inaugurated ferry connectivity in 2024,” Munasinghe said.&nbsp;He said Sri Lanka wants more Indians to visit the country, while also encouraging more Sri Lankans to travel to India.&nbsp;“As much as we want Indians to visit Sri Lanka, we also want Sri Lankans to travel to India. For the airlines to survive, there are so many activities for Sri Lankans to come to India,” he said.&nbsp;Munasinghe also called for greater professional exchange between the two countries' tourism sectors.“It’s best if we can provide exposure to Sri Lankans to work in India and vice versa,” he said.

Industry leaders at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit 2026 discussed India’s growing travel demand, aviation infrastructure, hospitality sector, tourism diplomacy and the need for stronger domestic and international tourism connectivity.

Notable personalities from India’s tourism and hospitality sector, along with senior policymakers, diplomats and industry leaders, came together in New Delhi on September 23 for the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026, presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications. The summit brought together key voices from across the tourism ecosystem to discuss the sector’s future, emerging opportunities, evolving travel trends and challenges that could shape its growth. Panel 3 of the summit, titled ‘The business of travel: Aviation, hospitality & India's tourism infra story’, featured Vikram Lalvani, MD & CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts; Saurabh Tiwari, Vice President, Middle East, Maldives & Sri Lanka, IHCL (Taj Dubai) Manish Puri, Head of Global Sales, Air India Limited & Air India Express Ahmed Hamed Sharbak, Regional Manager (APAC), Visit Qatar Kamal Munasinghe, Sr. Vice President, Colombo Hotels & General Manager, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Sri Lanka Muktesh Pardeshi, Former Secretary and Former Ambassador to Türkiye & New Zealand. India's tourism growth and changing travel patterns On whether hotel infrastructure is ready for more Indians travelling abroad, Saurabh Tiwari of IHCL (Taj Dubai) said global hotel chains have little choice but to prepare for the growing number of Indian travellers and their rising disposable incomes. “Global hotels do not have a choice, as Indians are travelling more and more and have disposable income to spend. So we better get ready for the challenge,” Tiwari said. He said Indian travellers are increasingly looking for better experiences as their spending capacity grows. “Indians are looking for great experiences with expanding spending capacity as the country itself is becoming better and better in terms of providing everything. So when Indian tourists go abroad, they expect an even better experience,” Tiwari said. Vikram Lalvani, MD & CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts, spoke about changing travel patterns as Gen Z and Gen Alpha increasingly participate in tourism. “The way the industry is moving is destination-led. In the future generation also, the question remains the same: why do I have to travel to a particular destination? Is the destination worth it? Is it safe enough?” Lalvani said. He said the way different destinations are connected would become increasingly important, with travellers looking for hybrid experiences. “Going forward is how we connect different destinations is important: hybrid experience. Like connecting a heritage town to hill stations like Mount Abu to Udaipur,” Lalvani said. Lalvani also stressed that domestic tourism remains a major driver of India's tourism sector. “If we say tourism is thriving, it is domestic tourism. We should not only focus on international tourism; the industry is thriving because of domestic tourism. After Covid, the first thing that rebounded was domestic tourism,” he said. He also called for India to promote itself as a year-round tourism destination instead of focusing mainly on the months when international tourists traditionally visit. “Our narrative about India can be 360-day tourism should go out to the world beyond November and January, which is known for international tourists,” Lalvani said. India eyes global aviation hub status as infrastructure expands Manish Puri, Head of Global Sales, Air India, said India has made significant progress in aviation infrastructure over the past decade as the country seeks to strengthen its position as a global aviation hub. “India is always a chicken-and-egg story. Is the demand come first, or does infra come first? But in the last 10 years, the situation has become better in terms of infra with a new airport at Jewar, in Navi Mumbai and others,” Puri said. He said the large number of aircraft orders placed by Indian carriers for the coming decade would further support the country's aviation growth. “With the number of orders Indian carriers placed in the next 10 years, we are ready to take the world by storm,” Puri said. However, Puri said India needs to improve transit facilities at its airport terminals to compete with major global aviation hubs and airlines. “The transit facility at the terminal is required to get better to compete with the global giants like Etihad, Qatar Airways,” he said. Puri also reflected on the transformation of Air India following its privatisation. “When AI was privatised, people were expecting a magic wand that would wash away every problem with the airline. However, in the last five years we have been able to change. We raised the consumer experience through NPS,” Puri said. Tourism diplomacy and soft power Former Indian envoy Muktesh Pardeshi, Former Secretary and Former Ambassador to Türkiye & New Zealand, highlighted the role of tourism diplomacy in strengthening India's economic and international engagement. “Tourism diplomacy is an important part of economic diplomacy. We have a mantra of 3 Ts, that is trade, tourism and technology,” Pardeshi said. He said tourism also contributes to a country's soft power and that a larger number of international tourists could strengthen India's global presence. “Tourism also helps in soft power projection of the country. If we had more tourists as per current level it will significantly enhance soft power,” Pardeshi said. Pardeshi compared India's foreign tourist arrivals with Türkiye, saying Türkiye attracts 65 million tourists while India has remained at around 20 million foreign tourists, including around 10 million NRIs. “To change that, government, industry and civil society need to step up its efforts as India has everything from landscape to heritage,” he said. Reflecting on his experience during India's G20 presidency, Pardeshi said India needs to invest in tourism promotion as well as the creation of social infrastructure. He also stressed the need to improve cleanliness and skills in the tourism sector. “Unless we work on neatness and cleanliness and we fix our issues, India can't realise tourism potential,” Pardeshi said. He also highlighted the lack of skill training among people working in the tourism sector, citing his experience of organising such training during the G20 summit in India. Qatar, Sri Lanka seek deeper tourism ties with India Ahmed Hamed Sharbak, Regional Manager (APAC), Visit Qatar, highlighted the long-standing relationship between India and Qatar and called for greater tourism collaboration between the two countries. “We have a long history between India and Qatar. We want collaboration between both countries,” Sharbak said. He said Qatar is looking to attract more family and leisure travellers while also building on its strengths in business and sports tourism. “We are big on tourism with sports, including the soccer World Cup and upcoming Formula 1. We are pushing even for stopover tourists who are only for 24 hours, 48 hours even while transiting to Europe,” he said. Sharbak also highlighted the growing importance of social media in shaping travel experiences. “You gonna spend money when you are going on holiday and document the experience on social media and we provide all of that,” he said. He added that Qatar has visa-on-arrival access for visitors from 100 destinations. Kamal Munasinghe, Sr. Vice President, Colombo Hotels & General Manager, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Sri Lanka, stressed that the tourism relationship between India and Sri Lanka should work both ways and go beyond air connectivity. “For the tourism corridor between both countries, it’s not just about a one-way street. It is a two-way street. We are pushing more connectivity beyond air connectivity, like the recently inaugurated ferry connectivity in 2024,” Munasinghe said. He said Sri Lanka wants more Indians to visit the country, while also encouraging more Sri Lankans to travel to India. “As much as we want Indians to visit Sri Lanka, we also want Sri Lankans to travel to India. For the airlines to survive, there are so many activities for Sri Lankans to come to India,” he said. Munasinghe also called for greater professional exchange between the two countries' tourism sectors. “It’s best if we can provide exposure to Sri Lankans to work in India and vice versa,” he said.

Industry leaders at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit 2026 discussed India’s growing travel demand, aviation infrastructure, hospitality sector, tourism diplomacy and the need for stronger domestic and international tourism connectivity.

WION Iconic Tourism Summit: India’s tourism potential, aviation push and changing travel trends

Domestic travel has increased manifold post covid and helped the tourism industry in India thrive, feels Vikram Lalvani, MD and CEO, Sterling Holidays and Resorts. Lalvani was one of the panelists of the panel on Business of Tourism at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026 on Wednesday, where he attributed domestic travellers playing a major role in contributing to the tourism industry.&nbsp;"If we are all sitting here today and saying tourism is thriving, it is because of domestic tourism. After COVID, what was the first thing that rebounded? It was domestic tourism. So what if your hotel staff can't speak in English? If the basic hospitality comes from the heart, it's okay," Lalvani pointed out.&nbsp;The CEO stated that the entire tourism industry in India can't be built on just foreign tourists. "Our bread and butter comes from domestic tourism," admitted Lalvani.&nbsp;The CEO also stated that India should now become a tourist destination all year round.&nbsp;"The narrative of India can be 365 days tourist destination, that we need to build upon. Maximum tourists come in the winter months; why can't we have tourists from outside all year round? We all go to Dubai when it is 50 degrees, but we refuse to go to Jaisalmer in 50 degrees? So we need to change that."&nbsp;Lalvani also added that most tourists choose travel based on the destination they want to visit. "The reason to travel to a destination is more important than just putting a dot on the map. When people travel, they travel as a unit, as a family. Can there be a complete experience for their entire family."&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-iconic-tourism-summit-moving-towards-making-india-developed-nation-by-2047-1790151635415/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-iconic-tourism-summit-moving-towards-making-india-developed-nation-by-2047-1790151635415/embed</a>&nbsp;Emphasising that travelling should now be seen as an experience that caters to all age groups, Lalvani reiterated that better connectivity between two destinations can only boost tourism and the tourism economy.&nbsp;Also read: '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/i-made-this-film-for-kids-hanuman-ansh-director-dr-vishal-chaturvedi-on-why-he-wanted-u-certificate-at-wion-iconic-tourism-summitt-1790155768383">I made this film for kids': Hanuman Ansh director Dr Vishal Chaturvedi</a> WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026, presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications, is taking place in New Delhi on September 23.&nbsp;

Vikram Lalvani, the CEO and MD of Sterling Holidays and Resorts, attributed domestic travellers as major contributors to the tourism sector in India. Lalvani spoke at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026 on Wednesday. 

Domestic travel has increased manifold post covid and helped the tourism industry in India thrive, feels Vikram Lalvani, MD and CEO, Sterling Holidays and Resorts. Lalvani was one of the panelists of the panel on Business of Tourism at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026 on Wednesday, where he attributed domestic travellers playing a major role in contributing to the tourism industry. "If we are all sitting here today and saying tourism is thriving, it is because of domestic tourism. After COVID, what was the first thing that rebounded? It was domestic tourism. So what if your hotel staff can't speak in English? If the basic hospitality comes from the heart, it's okay," Lalvani pointed out. The CEO stated that the entire tourism industry in India can't be built on just foreign tourists. "Our bread and butter comes from domestic tourism," admitted Lalvani. The CEO also stated that India should now become a tourist destination all year round. "The narrative of India can be 365 days tourist destination, that we need to build upon. Maximum tourists come in the winter months; why can't we have tourists from outside all year round? We all go to Dubai when it is 50 degrees, but we refuse to go to Jaisalmer in 50 degrees? So we need to change that." Lalvani also added that most tourists choose travel based on the destination they want to visit. "The reason to travel to a destination is more important than just putting a dot on the map. When people travel, they travel as a unit, as a family. Can there be a complete experience for their entire family." https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-iconic-tourism-summit-moving-towards-making-india-developed-nation-by-2047-1790151635415/embed Emphasising that travelling should now be seen as an experience that caters to all age groups, Lalvani reiterated that better connectivity between two destinations can only boost tourism and the tourism economy. Also read: 'I made this film for kids': Hanuman Ansh director Dr Vishal Chaturvedi WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026, presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications, is taking place in New Delhi on September 23.

Vikram Lalvani, the CEO and MD of Sterling Holidays and Resorts, attributed domestic travellers as major contributors to the tourism sector in India. Lalvani spoke at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026 on Wednesday.&nbsp;

'Our bread and butter comes from domestic tourism', says Vikram Lalvani of Sterling Holiday Resorts at WION Iconic Tourism Summit

Hanuman Ansh's success has been seen as a miracle no one saw coming, and while the entire team is celebrating its blockbuster run, the man behind the movie, director Dr Vishal Chaturvedi, spoke about the film, its impact on spiritual tourism, and how it has put India on the global map. He said footfall at places linked to Neem Karoli Baba has increased after the film's release.&nbsp;Speaking at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026, presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications, Chaturvedi spoke about the global following of spiritual guru Neem Karoli Baba, which spans continents and includes celebrities such as cricketer Virat Kohli, his wife Anushka Sharma, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.<h3>Director Vishal Chaturvedi on Hanuman Ansh's global dominance and rooted storytelling</h3>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/i-made-this-film-for-kids-hanuman-ansh-director-dr-vishal-chaturvedi-on-why-he-wanted-u-certificate-at-wion-iconic-tourism-summitt-1790155768383">'I made this film for kids': Hanuman Ansh director Dr Vishal Chaturvedi on why he wanted U certificate at WION Iconic Tourism Summit</a>&nbsp;On being asked if rooted, cultural stories push India's soft power globally, especially after Hanuman Ansh's worldwide launch, Dr Vishal Chaturvedi said:&nbsp;"First of all, I have to owe it to Neem Karoli Baba Maharaj Ji. Because his following is across the world. You see, there are Chinese, they don't understand Hindi or English, they follow Shri Neem Karoli Baba Maharaj. And somehow the entire Silicon Valley, I heard this from people that they find random people from random ethnicity. They have Maharajji's photograph on their mobile phone, as their wallpaper."&nbsp;‘’Now comes the rooted storytelling. We Indians are Indians first. And no matter what we wear, no matter how we talk, whether in English or any other language, when we go home, we become Indians first, right? We are very relaxed and talk to our family in our own language. Whenever we talk about our own roots in very simplified ways, because we are taught to be simple always, like how we save money on small things, and cooperate with things, our emotional attachment to small things happens. These are small little things which we all carry as Indian or as Bharati across the world. That's what works,'' he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;He said the kind of response the film is getting, especially in North America and New Zealand, is massive.&nbsp;The kind of response we are getting across the world, especially in North America and New Zealand. These are the countries where we are getting a very, very good response. Everyday numbers are doubling sort of things. Shows were two, and now they have become four. That is happening because there is a belief system and huge popularity of Neem Karoli Baba in Silicon Valley. In the Bay Area, it's massive," he added.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wion-iconic-tourism-summit-minister-kapil-mishra-shares-delhi-tourism-future-invites-industry-to-be-partners-1790142782204">WION Iconic Tourism Summit: Minister Kapil Mishra shares Delhi tourism future, invites industry to be partners</a><h3>Hanuman Ansh spiritual impact</h3>When asked if more films like Hanuman Ansh need to be made and whether its impact on spiritual tourism was planned, Dr Chaturvedi said:&nbsp;"In the end of the film, there is a 7-minute long end credit where we have actually mentioned each and every temple which was created by Maharaj. Apart from Kainchi Dham, there is Kakarighat temple, there is Hanumangarhi temple, there is a temple right here in Birla Hanuman temple. There is another temple in Delhi, which was established by Maharaj Ji. Then his Samadhi Sthal is Vrindavan, then Akbarpur where he was born, Neen Karori is in Farrukhabad, which is not Kainchi Dham, people get confused. We have listed and put the pictures of these places, also across the world, wherever their temples are, so that people can know about this place."&nbsp;Speaking about the increase in footfall at Neem Karoli Baba temples up 3x, the director said, “Somebody was telling me, via some news, I got to know this, and I am not quoting it from my own personal knowledge, that the footfall in these temples has increased by three times after the film's release.”

Hanuman Ansh director Dr Vishal Chaturvedi spoke at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026 about the film's unexpected success and its impact on spiritual tourism.

Hanuman Ansh's success has been seen as a miracle no one saw coming, and while the entire team is celebrating its blockbuster run, the man behind the movie, director Dr Vishal Chaturvedi, spoke about the film, its impact on spiritual tourism, and how it has put India on the global map. He said footfall at places linked to Neem Karoli Baba has increased after the film's release. Speaking at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026, presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications, Chaturvedi spoke about the global following of spiritual guru Neem Karoli Baba, which spans continents and includes celebrities such as cricketer Virat Kohli, his wife Anushka Sharma, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Director Vishal Chaturvedi on Hanuman Ansh's global dominance and rooted storytelling Also read: 'I made this film for kids': Hanuman Ansh director Dr Vishal Chaturvedi on why he wanted U certificate at WION Iconic Tourism Summit On being asked if rooted, cultural stories push India's soft power globally, especially after Hanuman Ansh's worldwide launch, Dr Vishal Chaturvedi said: "First of all, I have to owe it to Neem Karoli Baba Maharaj Ji. Because his following is across the world. You see, there are Chinese, they don't understand Hindi or English, they follow Shri Neem Karoli Baba Maharaj. And somehow the entire Silicon Valley, I heard this from people that they find random people from random ethnicity. They have Maharajji's photograph on their mobile phone, as their wallpaper." ‘’Now comes the rooted storytelling. We Indians are Indians first. And no matter what we wear, no matter how we talk, whether in English or any other language, when we go home, we become Indians first, right? We are very relaxed and talk to our family in our own language. Whenever we talk about our own roots in very simplified ways, because we are taught to be simple always, like how we save money on small things, and cooperate with things, our emotional attachment to small things happens. These are small little things which we all carry as Indian or as Bharati across the world. That's what works,'' he said. He said the kind of response the film is getting, especially in North America and New Zealand, is massive. The kind of response we are getting across the world, especially in North America and New Zealand. These are the countries where we are getting a very, very good response. Everyday numbers are doubling sort of things. Shows were two, and now they have become four. That is happening because there is a belief system and huge popularity of Neem Karoli Baba in Silicon Valley. In the Bay Area, it's massive," he added.

Hanuman Ansh director Dr Vishal Chaturvedi spoke at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026 about the film's unexpected success and its impact on spiritual tourism.

Hanuman Ansh boosts spiritual tourism, footfall at Neem Karoli Baba temples up 3x: Director Vishal Chaturvedi at WION summit

Hanuman Ansh is one of the year's most talked-about films, and its success has significantly boosted the profile of the sacred Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand. At the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026, presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications, in New Delhi on September 23, the film's director, Dr Vishal Chaturvedi, spoke about the movie, whether he had foreseen its success, and the overwhelming response it has received and the spiritual tourism that it has received.&nbsp;Made on a modest budget of just Rs 2 crore, the film is doing exceptionally well at the box office and is making waves across the world, having already surpassed the Rs 100 crore mark.&nbsp;&nbsp;When asked at the event whether he had anticipated the film's phenomenal success, the director said he was confident somewhere that audiences would eventually watch it, but this soon was a surprise.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/hanuman-ansh-boosts-spiritual-tourism-footfall-at-neem-karoli-baba-temples-up-3x-director-vishal-chaturvedi-at-wion-summit-1790159945752">Footfall at Neem Karoli Baba temples up 3x: Hanuman Ansh director at WION summit</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking at WION's summit &nbsp;''So I guess I saw that a lot of people are going to watch it. Most probably everyone in India will watch it. That was the dream. That was the wish. And that was the feeling also that one day this film will be watched by each Indian, each and every Indian living across the world.And I guess that's happening very early. I thought it's in a lifetime people will watch it, but yes.Thank you. Thank you, everyone.''

When asked about the surprising Gen Z response to the devotional film, he said the film was always intended for children. &nbsp;&nbsp;"So I made this film for kids. My idea of making this film was, apart from everyone who believes in Shri Neem Karoli Baba/Maharaj Ji, my team and I wanted kids to watch the film. So we made sure that we get the U certificate. The small kids in our house, they are 7 plus, 13 plus, you get UA 13, UA 7 plus. So we were very cautious and the censor certificate guys told us that there hasn't been a single slap in the film. So that's why we are honoring you with a U certificate. &nbsp;We are so glad that now each and every kid will be able to watch the film. And it's very heartwarming to know that Gen Alpha are among its first viewers."&nbsp;Hanuman Ansh's song ‘’Parvati'' is trending across the social media andhas become a global hit, reaching No. 2 on YouTube's global chart and No. 1 in India. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Talking about the film's music breakthrough, the director said that the track is charting worldwide. Referring to the viral success, he said, ''After those two songs picked up. Parvati is now charting worldwide number two after Shakira's song."&nbsp;<h3>Hanuman Ansh box office</h3>What started with just 300 screens, Hanuman Ansh has been played at over 2,500+ screens and 97,082 shows, and continues to be the audience's first choice. According to Sachnilk, Hanuman Ansh has achieved worldwide collections of ₹366.45Cr (India Gross: ₹ 331.70 Cr, Overseas: ₹ 34.75 Cr) in gross collections and ₹ 280.93 Cr in net collections across 192,452 shows.

At the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026 in New Delhi on Sep 23, Hanuman Ansh director Dr. Vishal Chaturvedi spoke about the film's unexpected blockbuster run, what was his motive behind the movie and a lot more.

Hanuman Ansh is one of the year's most talked-about films, and its success has significantly boosted the profile of the sacred Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand. At the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026, presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications, in New Delhi on September 23, the film's director, Dr Vishal Chaturvedi, spoke about the movie, whether he had foreseen its success, and the overwhelming response it has received and the spiritual tourism that it has received. Made on a modest budget of just Rs 2 crore, the film is doing exceptionally well at the box office and is making waves across the world, having already surpassed the Rs 100 crore mark. When asked at the event whether he had anticipated the film's phenomenal success, the director said he was confident somewhere that audiences would eventually watch it, but this soon was a surprise. Also read: Footfall at Neem Karoli Baba temples up 3x: Hanuman Ansh director at WION summit Speaking at WION's summit ''So I guess I saw that a lot of people are going to watch it. Most probably everyone in India will watch it. That was the dream. That was the wish. And that was the feeling also that one day this film will be watched by each Indian, each and every Indian living across the world.And I guess that's happening very early. I thought it's in a lifetime people will watch it, but yes.Thank you. Thank you, everyone.''

At the WION Iconic Tourism Summit and Awards 2026 in New Delhi on Sep 23, Hanuman Ansh director Dr. Vishal Chaturvedi spoke about the film's unexpected blockbuster run, what was his motive behind the movie and a lot more.&nbsp;

'I made this film for kids': Hanuman Ansh director Dr Vishal Chaturvedi on why he wanted U certificate at WION Iconic Tourism Summit

Diplomats from Nicaragua, Greece and Sri Lanka used the WION Iconic Tourism Summit 2026 to make the case for their countries as emerging and enduring destinations for Indian travellers, each highlighting unique offerings, from untouched nature and volcanoes to island-hopping and shared civilizational ties, while acknowledging the challenges of connectivity that still stand in the way of deeper tourism ties with India. They highlighted how Indians can look at the option of tourism, keeping several aspects in mind in terms of cultural and sustainable tourism.<h3>Nadeska Cuthbert, Ambassador of Nicaragua to India, at WION Iconic Tourism Summit</h3>Question: If Indians want to travel to Nicaragua, how would they need to take a flight and travel there directly?&nbsp;Answer: "As of now, we don't have a direct flight to Nicaragua from India, or to Central America more broadly. Since last year, we have put in a lot of effort to increase tourism. Nicaragua is smaller than India, but it has abundant nature and forests, and its people are incredible, much like our culture. We are looking to build eco-tourism and sustainable tourism to protect and preserve both our culture and our nature. We definitely want more Indians to visit the country and see our volcanoes, try sandboarding, and go snorkelling at some of our sites. All of this can be experienced in a very short period of time."&nbsp;Question: How can your country become a hub for the entire region, considering that if Indians travel so far, they may also want to visit neighbouring countries?&nbsp;Answer: "Definitely, we see Latin America and the Caribbean as a whole. When you think of visiting this region, you can also think of visiting the neighbouring countries as well. Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras share a lot in common. We have beautiful natural resources along with wonderful people. Nicaragua is unique and authentic, this is because of our people, our culture, and our thriving economy."&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wion-iconic-tourism-summit-minister-kapil-mishra-shares-delhi-tourism-future-invites-industry-to-be-partners-1790142782204">WION Iconic Tourism Summit: Minister Kapil Mishra shares Delhi tourism future, invites industry to be partners</a><h3>Aliki Koutsomitopoulou, Ambassador of Greece to India</h3>Question: Greece has already established itself as a major destination in global tourism, with a lot of Indian travel and Bollywood also playing a role in promoting the country. Do you think there are specific locations Indians prefer, and is there a direct flight to boost tourism between the two nations?&nbsp;Answer: "We started a direct flight in January 2026. We have witnessed 40,000 people using that flight, and traffic between the two nations has increased. Interest among Indians in visiting Greece has always been there, and the number of people visiting Greece after the launch of the flight has grown by 28 per cent. Greece is not just a destination for summer and the sea; you can visit during other seasons too, and explore other locations, as the country is full of islands. There are also many mountains to explore."&nbsp;Question: What is Greece doing to attract the younger generation? Are there any special initiatives?Answer: "Greece has beaches, hiking mountains, luxury living, and also authenticity. AI can never replace physical presence, so we are trying to preserve that experience."<h3> Mahishini Colonné, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India</h3>Question: Apart from visa-on-arrival, is Sri Lanka looking at other ways to attract Indian tourists? One such initiative is UPI, which allows Indians in Sri Lanka to pay using a QR code. Has that been effective so far?&nbsp;Answer: "It is very easy for Indians to travel to Sri Lanka, as it only requires an electronic travel authorisation, which is free. UPI has been in operation in Sri Lanka since 2024, and it has made things much easier for Indians. Beyond that, we are continuing to work on attracting more Indian tourists in the future."&nbsp;Question: From Gen Z travel trends to religious tourism, particularly the Ramayana and Buddhism trails, what is the process for this, and can Indians visit these well-known trails? This is what connects the two countries, making India and Sri Lanka civilizational twins in many ways.&nbsp;Answer: "India and Sri Lanka are indeed civilizational twins. Last year, millions of Indians visited Sri Lanka, and a large number of Sri Lankan pilgrims, over 250,000 people, visited India as well, mainly for religious tourism. There are also several sites in Sri Lanka that Indians don't often visit, such as 'Ramasala.' It is believed to be the site where Hanuman ji carried part of the Himalayas while transporting the Sanjeevani herb. There are many more such sites. Sri Lanka holds a very special place for Indians."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Diplomats highlighted at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit 2026 how Indians can look up to the option of tourism, keeping several aspects in mind in terms of cultural and sustainable tourism.

Diplomats from Nicaragua, Greece and Sri Lanka used the WION Iconic Tourism Summit 2026 to make the case for their countries as emerging and enduring destinations for Indian travellers, each highlighting unique offerings, from untouched nature and volcanoes to island-hopping and shared civilizational ties, while acknowledging the challenges of connectivity that still stand in the way of deeper tourism ties with India. They highlighted how Indians can look at the option of tourism, keeping several aspects in mind in terms of cultural and sustainable tourism. Nadeska Cuthbert, Ambassador of Nicaragua to India, at WION Iconic Tourism Summit Question: If Indians want to travel to Nicaragua, how would they need to take a flight and travel there directly? Answer: "As of now, we don't have a direct flight to Nicaragua from India, or to Central America more broadly. Since last year, we have put in a lot of effort to increase tourism. Nicaragua is smaller than India, but it has abundant nature and forests, and its people are incredible, much like our culture. We are looking to build eco-tourism and sustainable tourism to protect and preserve both our culture and our nature. We definitely want more Indians to visit the country and see our volcanoes, try sandboarding, and go snorkelling at some of our sites. All of this can be experienced in a very short period of time." Question: How can your country become a hub for the entire region, considering that if Indians travel so far, they may also want to visit neighbouring countries? Answer: "Definitely, we see Latin America and the Caribbean as a whole. When you think of visiting this region, you can also think of visiting the neighbouring countries as well. Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras share a lot in common. We have beautiful natural resources along with wonderful people. Nicaragua is unique and authentic, this is because of our people, our culture, and our thriving economy." Also read: WION Iconic Tourism Summit: Minister Kapil Mishra shares Delhi tourism future, invites industry to be partners Aliki Koutsomitopoulou, Ambassador of Greece to India Question: Greece has already established itself as a major destination in global tourism, with a lot of Indian travel and Bollywood also playing a role in promoting the country. Do you think there are specific locations Indians prefer, and is there a direct flight to boost tourism between the two nations? Answer: "We started a direct flight in January 2026. We have witnessed 40,000 people using that flight, and traffic between the two nations has increased. Interest among Indians in visiting Greece has always been there, and the number of people visiting Greece after the launch of the flight has grown by 28 per cent. Greece is not just a destination for summer and the sea; you can visit during other seasons too, and explore other locations, as the country is full of islands. There are also many mountains to explore." Question: What is Greece doing to attract the younger generation? Are there any special initiatives? Answer: "Greece has beaches, hiking mountains, luxury living, and also authenticity. AI can never replace physical presence, so we are trying to preserve that experience." Mahishini Colonné, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Question: Apart from visa-on-arrival, is Sri Lanka looking at other ways to attract Indian tourists? One such initiative is UPI, which allows Indians in Sri Lanka to pay using a QR code. Has that been effective so far? Answer: "It is very easy for Indians to travel to Sri Lanka, as it only requires an electronic travel authorisation, which is free. UPI has been in operation in Sri Lanka since 2024, and it has made things much easier for Indians. Beyond that, we are continuing to work on attracting more Indian tourists in the future." Question: From Gen Z travel trends to religious tourism, particularly the Ramayana and Buddhism trails, what is the process for this, and can Indians visit these well-known trails? This is what connects the two countries, making India and Sri Lanka civilizational twins in many ways. Answer: "India and Sri Lanka are indeed civilizational twins. Last year, millions of Indians visited Sri Lanka, and a large number of Sri Lankan pilgrims, over 250,000 people, visited India as well, mainly for religious tourism. There are also several sites in Sri Lanka that Indians don't often visit, such as 'Ramasala.' It is believed to be the site where Hanuman ji carried part of the Himalayas while transporting the Sanjeevani herb. There are many more such sites. Sri Lanka holds a very special place for Indians."

Diplomats highlighted at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit 2026 how Indians can look up to the option of tourism, keeping several aspects in mind in terms of cultural and sustainable tourism.

Nicaragua, Greece, Sri Lanka: Three ambassadors, one message for Indian travellers at WION Tourism Summit

Marking fifty years of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles, High Commissioner Lalatiana Accouche reflected on a bond that runs deeper than formal ties, tracing its roots to the early Gujarati migrants who were among the first settlers in the island nation.&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking at WION Iconic Tourism Summit presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications, Accouche said, “Relations between India and Seychelles have evolved; the people-to-people connection is very strong.” Further describing the relationship as one built on generations of shared history rather than recent diplomacy alone.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/charaiveti-charaiveti-gajendra-shekhawat-invokes-vedas-at-wion-iconic-tourism-summit-says-india-on-course-to-become-developed-nation-by-2047-1790142464304">‘Charaiveti, Charaiveti’: Shekhawat invokes Vedas at WION Iconic Tourism Summit</a>&nbsp;Looking ahead, she expressed optimism about the partnership's trajectory, saying she was eager to see "how this relationship will strengthen in the coming years." She characterised the bond between the two nations in familial terms, calling India and Seychelles "like sisters."&nbsp;Accouche also highlighted the strategic dimensions of the relationship, particularly in maritime cooperation. "We have been collaborating with India in the maritime field, and we have agreed to strengthen this partnership," she said. With Seychelles' economy heavily dependent on tourism, she underscored the shared priority of regional security: "We want to keep the Indian Ocean region safe."&nbsp;Her remarks came ahead of the WION Iconic Tourism Summit &amp; Awards 2026, set to take place in New Delhi on 23 September. The summit arrives at a moment of rapid transformation in global travel, shaped by new technologies, shifting traveller expectations, and evolving mobility frameworks. It will bring together leaders from government, diplomacy, tourism, aviation, hospitality, and technology to address the sector's most pressing challenges.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wion-tourism-summit-ireland-slovakia-ambassadors-highlight-tourism-as-a-bridge-for-stronger-india-ties-1790154897854">WION Tourism Summit: Ireland, Slovakia ambassadors highlight tourism as a bridge for stronger India ties</a>&nbsp;Discussions at the summit are expected to span visa policy, border management, biometric travel systems, digital transformation, and the expanding role of artificial intelligence in shaping traveller experiences. The event will culminate in the Iconic Awards 2026, honouring individuals and organisations that have made notable contributions to the travel and tourism industry.&nbsp;Accouche's comments underscore how bilateral relationships like India-Seychelles ties are increasingly framed not just around trade and diplomacy, but around tourism, maritime security, and regional stability, themes set to feature prominently at the summit.

Seychelles High Commissioner Lalatiana Accouche highlights 50 years of diplomatic ties with India, emphasizing maritime security, tourism, and historical connections at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit 2026.

Marking fifty years of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles, High Commissioner Lalatiana Accouche reflected on a bond that runs deeper than formal ties, tracing its roots to the early Gujarati migrants who were among the first settlers in the island nation. Speaking at WION Iconic Tourism Summit presented by VFS Global in association with Red Hat Communications, Accouche said, “Relations between India and Seychelles have evolved; the people-to-people connection is very strong.” Further describing the relationship as one built on generations of shared history rather than recent diplomacy alone. Also read: ‘Charaiveti, Charaiveti’: Shekhawat invokes Vedas at WION Iconic Tourism Summit Looking ahead, she expressed optimism about the partnership's trajectory, saying she was eager to see "how this relationship will strengthen in the coming years." She characterised the bond between the two nations in familial terms, calling India and Seychelles "like sisters." Accouche also highlighted the strategic dimensions of the relationship, particularly in maritime cooperation. "We have been collaborating with India in the maritime field, and we have agreed to strengthen this partnership," she said. With Seychelles' economy heavily dependent on tourism, she underscored the shared priority of regional security: "We want to keep the Indian Ocean region safe." Her remarks came ahead of the WION Iconic Tourism Summit & Awards 2026, set to take place in New Delhi on 23 September. The summit arrives at a moment of rapid transformation in global travel, shaped by new technologies, shifting traveller expectations, and evolving mobility frameworks. It will bring together leaders from government, diplomacy, tourism, aviation, hospitality, and technology to address the sector's most pressing challenges. Also read: WION Tourism Summit: Ireland, Slovakia ambassadors highlight tourism as a bridge for stronger India ties Discussions at the summit are expected to span visa policy, border management, biometric travel systems, digital transformation, and the expanding role of artificial intelligence in shaping traveller experiences. The event will culminate in the Iconic Awards 2026, honouring individuals and organisations that have made notable contributions to the travel and tourism industry. Accouche's comments underscore how bilateral relationships like India-Seychelles ties are increasingly framed not just around trade and diplomacy, but around tourism, maritime security, and regional stability, themes set to feature prominently at the summit.

Seychelles High Commissioner Lalatiana Accouche highlights 50 years of diplomatic ties with India, emphasising maritime security, tourism, and historical connections at the WION Iconic Tourism Summit 2026.

India-Seychelles ties: "Like sisters," says High Commissioner Lalatiana Accouche at WION Iconic Tourism Summit

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