The ninth edition of the WION ICONIC Tourism Summit 2026 brought together senior government officials, diplomats and leaders from the tourism, aviation, hospitality and technology sectors in New Delhi, with discussions focused on how technology, artificial intelligence and sustainability are reshaping the travel industry.
Held on 23 September at ITC Maurya, the summit was organised by Red Hat Communications, an initiative of Jyoti Mayal, in association with Zee Network and VFS Global. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat attended as Chief Guest, while Delhi Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra was Guest of Honour.
The summit was held under the theme “Reinventing Tourism: Where Technology, AI and Sustainability Are Shaping the Future of Travel.” Sessions examined digital transformation, artificial intelligence, aviation growth, sustainable tourism, changing traveller expectations, destination development and workforce skills.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture & Tourism, addressed the summit, saying, Tourism will play an increasingly important role in India’s growth story, and our approach has always been rooted in the timeless values of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and Atithi Devo Bhava. The growth of tourism goes far beyond architecture or amenities. It depends on a complete ecosystem where infrastructure, connectivity, hospitality, food and beverage, technology, local communities and travel enablers work together to create a meaningful experience for visitors.
Tourism is becoming increasingly decentralised, which presents a tremendous opportunity for a diverse country like India. Technology and social media are opening up destinations that were earlier less visible, while AI, AR and VR can help travellers curate experiences and discover destinations in new ways. Yet technology can only enable the journey; it can never replace the human touch. Travel agents, tour operators and other travel enablers continue to play an important role in shaping the overall visitor experience.
Indian hospitality has always been one of our greatest strengths, and we must continue to raise the bar. In the age of social media, a visitor’s experience can travel faster than anything else and a poor experience can influence the perception of an entire destination. This makes it essential for all stakeholders to work together on quality, safety, infrastructure and connectivity. India offers immense possibilities for unparalleled travel experiences because of its extraordinary diversity, and our collective responsibility is to build an ecosystem that allows these experiences to flourish.
Technology and AI take centre stage
The discussions reflected the growing role of technology across the travel journey, from destination discovery and trip planning to airport processes and passenger experiences.
WION’s summit programming included discussions on digital transformation, visa facilitation and the use of technology to create more seamless travel experiences. A dedicated session on technology explored how AI and other digital tools are influencing the way travellers plan and experience journeys.
Speaking at the summit, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted the importance of an integrated tourism ecosystem encompassing infrastructure, connectivity, hospitality, food and beverage, technology, local communities and travel intermediaries.
He also pointed to the growing role of AI, augmented reality, virtual reality and social media in helping travellers discover destinations that were previously less visible, while stressing that technology remains an enabler rather than a replacement for human interaction.
Delhi looks to strengthen its tourism proposition
Kapil Mishra used the event to highlight Delhi and the National Capital Region’s potential as a tourism hub.
He said strengthening the capital’s tourism proposition would require improvements in infrastructure, visitor experiences and tourism-related investment, alongside greater participation from the private sector. Independent coverage of his remarks similarly reported his call for industry input and partnerships to develop Delhi as an international tourism destination.
The discussions placed Delhi within the wider context of India’s expanding tourism ecosystem, with connectivity, hospitality, infrastructure and new travel experiences emerging as key areas for collaboration between government and industry.
He said, It is a privilege to be part of ICONIC Summit 2026 and to engage with stakeholders who share a common vision for the growth of tourism. We all have a role to play in taking tourism forward in the national capital as well as across India. Delhi and the NCR region have immense potential, and we are undertaking several measures to strengthen tourism infrastructure, architecture and visitor experiences across the capital and its surrounding areas. At the same time, making Delhi a leading tourism hub will require greater participation from the private sector, with investments and partnerships that can help strengthen infrastructure, develop new tourism experiences and create more opportunities for visitors.
Technology, artificial intelligence and social media are opening up new possibilities for tourism and can significantly expand the way destinations are discovered and experienced. At the same time, the impact we create will ultimately depend on how effectively all stakeholders come together and translate these opportunities into meaningful action. Stronger public-private partnerships can play an important role in bringing together government vision, industry expertise and private investment to build a more vibrant and competitive tourism ecosystem for Delhi. Government, industry, tourism professionals and citizens must work collectively to build an ecosystem that supports sustainable growth and creates a stronger tourism experience.
I invite stakeholders from across the industry and everyone working towards the larger interests of the nation to come forward, collaborate and contribute their ideas towards strengthening tourism in Delhi and across India. I also extend my appreciation to Hon’ble Union Minister of Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat ji for his continued efforts and passion towards taking Indian tourism forward. Together, we can build further on the vision of the Government and Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and strengthen tourism as an important contributor to India’s growth and prosperity.
Industry and diplomatic participation
The ninth edition brought together industry leaders including Tribhuvan Darbari, Chairman, BIMSTEC Business Council Secretariat, India; K.B. Kachru, Chairman Emeritus & Principal Advisor, South Asia at Radisson Hotel Group; Ravi Nandan Sinha, Director, Strategic Investments & Economic Partnerships, MSME Business Forum India; Saurabh Tiwari, Vice President – Middle East, Maldives & Sri Lanka, IHCL (Taj Dubai); Vikram Lalvani, MD & CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts; Manish Puri, Head of Global Sales, Air India Limited & Air India Express; Ahmed Hamed Sharbak, Regional Manager (APAC), Visit Qatar; Kamal Munasinghe, Senior VP, Colombo Hotels, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and General Manager, Cinnamon Life; Anil Parashar, Executive Director, ITQ Technologies Pvt. Ltd.; Vinay Malhotra, Head, Strategic Global Partnerships, VFS Global; Achin Sharma, Chief Digital Officer, WAISL (GMR Cargo); Abhilash Kalathil Ramesh, Executive Director, Kairali Ayurvedic Group; and Sharad Gowani, Head of Operations – India, VFS Global, among other industry stakeholders.
The summit also included senior diplomatic representatives, including H.E. Mariano Agustin Caucino, Ambassador of Argentina to India; H.E. Hanisha Jairam, Ambassador of Suriname to India; H.E. Lalatiana Accouche, High Commissioner of Seychelles to India; H.E. Anil Sooklal, High Commissioner of South Africa to India; H.E. Aliki Koutsomitopoulou, Ambassador of Greece to India; H.E. Kevin Kelly, Ambassador of Ireland to India; H.E. Nadeska Cuthbert, Ambassador of Nicaragua to India; H.E. Robert Maxian, Ambassador of Slovakia to India; H.E. Evagoras Vryonides, High Commissioner of Cyprus to India; H.E. Mahishini Colonné, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India; and Muktesh Pardeshi, Former Secretary and Former Ambassador to Türkiye & New Zealand.
The participation of diplomatic representatives brought an international dimension to discussions around inbound tourism, outbound travel and cross-border cooperation.
Collaboration and skills remain key priorities
Speaking after the summit, Jyoti Mayal, who is behind the ICONIC platform and serves as Chairperson of the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council, said: “Today, marking the 9th edition of ICONIC is a deeply meaningful milestone. Over the years, the platform has grown into a space where leaders across sectors can come together, exchange perspectives and collectively shape the future of travel and tourism. The industry has undergone tremendous transformation, with technology, AI, sustainability and evolving traveller expectations reshaping the way tourism is experienced. As we look ahead, the opportunity lies in building a more connected and inclusive tourism ecosystem—one that brings together government, industry, investors, technology partners and local communities. Collaboration, innovation and skilling will be central to ensuring that tourism growth creates stronger destinations, new opportunities and meaningful livelihoods. I am grateful to all the industry leaders, policymakers, diplomats and partners who have been part of the ICONIC journey and contributed to making it a meaningful platform for the industry.”
Looking ahead
The ninth edition of the ICONIC Tourism Summit concluded with discussions around collaboration, innovation and the development of a more connected tourism ecosystem.
With government officials, diplomats and industry executives participating alongside technology and aviation specialists, the event provided a platform for examining the operational and technological changes affecting travel while highlighting the importance of infrastructure, skills, sustainability and human-led hospitality in India’s tourism development.
