- India touted its destinations at New York’s Travel & Adventure Show.
- Partners, including Air India and Veena World, joined the pavilion.
- The One District One Product initiative highlighted products.
APPROXIMATELY 20 PERCENT of foreign tourists to India come from the U.S. and Binaya Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York, wants to see the number grow. To that end, Pradhan took part in the Travel & Adventure Show 2026.
The show, held at the Jacob Javits Center on Jan. 24 to 25, drew more than 10,000 visitors. The India Pavilion showcased the country’s tourism and cultural destinations, giving visitors insight into the country’s heritage and cuisine, PTI reported.
“While the consulate participates in the event annually, this year the India Pavilion included tour and travel companies from India,” Pradhan told PTI. “Our effort is to take Indian tourism into the U.S. mainstream and encourage second-, third- and fourth-generation Indian Americans to visit their ancestral homeland. Although the 5.2 million Indian diaspora in the U.S. is culturally connected to India, the focus is on engaging younger generations to experience the country’s culture, civilization, and spirituality.”
He also highlighted measures taken by the Indian government and its consulates worldwide to facilitate tourism and travel, including electronic visas.
“About 95 per cent of tourists from the U.S. go to India using electronic visas,” he said. “With American travel and tour groups attending the show, the event will help promote tourism from the U.S. to India.”
Among the works on display was a Madhubani painting by New Jersey–based artist Nupur Nishith depicting the New York City skyline, including the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. India’s One District One Product initiative was also featured, highlighting crafts, textiles and regional specialties.
Several partner organizations, including Air India, Veena World, Sky Bird Vacations, Tiwari Tours, TopTours and Travels, Shikhar Travels and Palace Tours, participated in the pavilion. The booth also featured Indian dance performances, VR experiences, henna art, and food offerings such as chaat and masala tea.
India’s Union Ministry of Tourism reported that Uttar Pradesh led domestic tourism in 2025, with more than 1.37 billion domestic visits. The state also ranked fourth in foreign tourist arrivals, receiving about 366,000 international visitors.
