Suman Billa, veteran IAS officer and tourism expert, assumes charge as Director General (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle, senior IAS officer Suman Billa has been appointed as the new Director General (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The announcement was made as part of a wider administrative overhaul by the Centre. Billa, a 1996 batch officer from the Kerala cadre, was serving as Additional Secretary in the ministry prior to his elevation.
Billa has had a longstanding association with the tourism sector. From 2014 to 2019, he served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, where he played a pivotal role in shaping India’s tourism policy landscape. He later took on a global role as Director of Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Development at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in Madrid, contributing to global sustainable tourism development initiatives.
Upon his return to India, Billa served as Principal Secretary for Industries and NORKA in the Kerala government before rejoining the Ministry of Tourism in February 2024, taking over from Rakesh Verma as Additional Secretary.
Upon his return to India, Billa served as Principal Secretary for Industries and NORKA in the Kerala government before rejoining the Ministry of Tourism in February 2024, taking over from Rakesh Verma as Additional Secretary.
His appointment comes amidst a broader reshuffle at the Additional Secretary level. According to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), 25 officers have been appointed to Additional Secretary posts across ministries, while 15 have been elevated in situ.
Welcoming the development, industry leaders have expressed optimism about Billa’s leadership in propelling Indian tourism to new heights. KB Kachru, President, Hotel Association of India (HAI) & Chairman – South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, said,
“The industry, including the Hotel Association of India (HAI), looks forward to strengthening its engagement with Billa to enhance policy frameworks, improve ease of doing business, and drive coordinated promotional efforts to position India as a preferred destination for leisure, business, and MICE tourism.”
With his rich experience in both national tourism policymaking and international cooperation, Billa is expected to play a crucial role in supporting the government’s vision of making tourism a major pillar of economic growth and employment in the country.
