On the occasion of World Tourism Day, Mr Vikram Dhawan, Chief Strategy Officer, Ebix Travel – Delphi World Money Ltd., highlighted the urgent need for India to align tourism growth with sustainability benchmarks that resonate globally.

He noted that the global sustainable tourism market, currently valued at USD 2.73 trillion in 2023, is projected to reach USD 9.17 trillion by 2032, reflecting a worldwide shift toward responsible and regenerative travel models. In India, tourism contributes nearly 5% to the country’s GDP. The government focuses on developing low-carbon infrastructure, creating local value, and promoting the circular use of resources.

Stakeholders cannot achieve sustainable tourism in isolation. “True progress requires alignment across public policy, private investment, and grassroots stakeholders,” he said. To establish India’s global leadership in this space, he suggested defining and tracking meaningful success metrics such as:

• Per-visitor carbon footprint
• Local economic retention
• Circular waste management practices

“These parameters,” he added, “can serve not only as indicators of India’s progress but also as benchmarks for the global tourism industry.”

With the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day centred on sustainability, Dhawan’s insights underline the need for India to move beyond growth numbers and focus on measurable, responsible, and inclusive tourism development.

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