New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening the tourism sector in the Union Budget 2026. The proposals include development of heritage and cultural destinations, a Global Big Cat Summit with participation from officials of 95 countries, expansion of trekking and hiking experiences, and structured training programmes for tourist guides across 20 identified iconic locations to improve visitor services and overall travel experiences nationwide with focus on infrastructure sustainability.
The Budget also places emphasis on medical tourism through creation of specialised hubs offering healthcare and research facilities. Alongside this, the government plans to develop 15 archaeological sites, including Sarnath and Hastinapur, as vibrant cultural destinations, while also proposing mountain train services for hill states such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir to support tourism growth nationwide sustainably.
Key tourism announcements in Union Budget 2026
1. Global Big Cat Summit and outdoor tourism
The Finance Minister announced a Global Big Cat Summit that will see participation of state authorities from 95 countries. The Budget also focuses on expanding trekking and hiking experiences in select states, aimed at attracting adventure tourists and promoting eco-friendly travel options.
2. Training of guides at iconic locations
To improve tourist engagement and service quality, the government will roll out structured training programmes for tourist guides across 20 iconic destinations. The initiative aims to create skilled manpower and enhance visitor experiences at major tourist sites.
3. Medical tourism hubs and healthcare boost
The Budget proposes setting up medical tourism hubs that will offer advanced healthcare and research facilities. According to analysts, this move is expected to benefit the healthcare sector, including major hospital chains and diagnostic companies operating across India.
4. Heritage sites and mountain trains
The government will develop 15 archaeological sites, including Sarnath and Hastinapur, into vibrant cultural destinations. To boost tourism in hill states, mountain train services have been proposed for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir.
5. Market view on tourism push
Madhuchanda Dey, Head of Research, said the tourism boost includes plans for a National Institute of Hospitality to bridge gaps between academia, industry and government. She noted that upskilling guides, trekking initiatives, Turtle Trail, Birdwatching Trail and archaeological site development are positive for IRCTC, online travel platforms like ixigo, and hotel stocks.
Lekha Badlani, Research Analyst, said the focus on medical tourism hubs is positive for the healthcare sector. She added that hospital chains such as Max, Apollo and Medanta, along with diagnostic firms like Dr Lal PathLabs, Metropolis, Vijaya Diagnostics and Suraksha Diagnostics, are likely to benefit.
With a mix of infrastructure, heritage revival, medical tourism and skill development, the Union Budget 2026 positions tourism as a key growth driver across regions and sectors.