- WTTCII named Jyotsna Suri as chair for 2026–2028.
- Office bearers were announced at the AGM in New Delhi.
- The association will work with the government to grow India’s tourism.
THE WORLD TRAVEL & Tourism Council, India Initiative named Jyotsna Suri, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group’s chairperson and managing director, as chair for the 2026–2028 term. The office bearers were announced at the annual general meeting in New Delhi.
Vikram Madhok, Abercrombie & Kent India’s managing director, is vice chair, WTTCII, while Ragini Chopra, InterGlobe Enterprises’s executive vice president – Corporate Affairs, is vice chair for advocacy, WTTCII said in a statement.
“With the Union Budget 2026 setting a clear direction, delivery now rests on state-level execution—where investment and visitor experience are shaped,” Suri said. “WTTCII will work with states and UTs to improve project timelines, destination management and quality standards. Our engagement through the Goa Tourism Board and the recent MoU with the government of Tamil Nadu reflects this commitment to on-ground implementation.”
Madhok said India must strengthen the full journey—access, connectivity, international marketing and destination management—to grow inbound tourism, attract visitors, build year-round demand and spread benefits across regions.
“A key step in that direction is the new visa application platform that the Government of India is expected to commission later this year,” he said. “The goal is simple: a brand promise that matches India’s visitor experience.”
Meanwhile, India’s Union Budget positioned tourism at the center of jobs, infrastructure and regional development. It shifted focus from destination promotion to long-term capacity building, linking investments in skills, heritage, digital systems and connectivity with measures to support global travel and mobility.
“India needs a focused, priority-market international marketing campaign—and it must be matched by reliable on-ground delivery in states, where policy meets execution,” Chopra said. “WTTCII’s advocacy will be evidence-led and solutions-first, leveraging our diverse membership—airlines, hospitality, travel services, OTAs, PSUs and consulting expertise—to help governments adopt practical reforms and deliver measurable performance improvements for India’s travel and tourism sector.”
The council also acknowledged Deep Kalra, MakeMyTrip India Pvt. Ltd’s founder and chairman, for his leadership as outgoing chair and for guiding the council on reforms, investment facilitation, competitiveness and sustainability in India’s travel and tourism sector.
Kalra said WTTCII will work with the government, at the centre and in states, to support India’s tourism growth and help the sector scale as a global destination.
“We will work with decision-makers to translate reform intent into measurable outcomes,” he said. “We are delighted to welcome Airbnb and Hilton as WTTCII Members, further strengthening a broader platform across the travel ecosystem and deepening WTTCII’s capability, voice and impact.”
An October report by WTTC found that the travel and tourism sector could add 91 million jobs by 2035 but still face a shortfall of more than 43 million. The hospitality segment alone is projected to have an 8.6 million-worker gap, about 18 percent below required levels.
