Budget 2026: Big announcements have been made to promote travel and tourism. Development of 7 new high-speed rail corridors, modern facilities in railways, development of tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and reduction in TCS on foreign travel are big relief for passengers.
Budget 2026 Tourism: Presenting the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made several important announcements related to travel, transport and tourism. The clear message of this budget is to make domestic travel higher speed, safer and more comfortable, and make international travel more affordable for the common man. Railways, high-speed corridors, tourism development and special focus on tier-2 and tier-3 cities were the highlights of this budget.
Railways will get new infrastructure and modern experience
There is a proposal for significant investment in the railway sector in Budget 2026. This includes reconstruction of railway stations, better connectivity and modern passenger amenities. There are indications of expansion of Vande Bharat trains and Amrit Bharat services, which will reduce the time taken for long distance journeys. Emphasis has also been laid on strengthening passenger security through modern security systems like ‘Kavach’.
7 new high-speed rail corridors proposed
To make travel between major cities faster and more comfortable, the government has proposed to develop 7 new high-speed rail corridors. These include Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi and Varanasi-Siliguri. These corridors will not only reduce travel time but will also boost trade and regional development.
Focus on tourism development and employment
The Finance Minister said that the tourism sector can be a major source of employment generation and foreign exchange earnings. The budget announced plans to train guides at tourist centres, develop world-class trekking and hiking destinations, and conserve and develop turtle nesting sites in Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala. This will also promote eco-tourism.
Also read- Rann of Kutch: A trip to the white sand will be wonderful, IRCTC has brought a great offer in the budget.
Development of Tier-2, Tier-3 cities and temple towns
In Budget 2026, special emphasis has been laid on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. A provision of ₹5,000 crore has been made for the development of temple towns, which will boost religious tourism and strengthen the local economy.
foreign travel will be cheaper
In a major relief to common travellers, TCS (tax collected at source) on foreign travel has been reduced to 2 per cent. This will make international travel more affordable than before. Overall, Budget 2026 sets a new direction for the travel and tourism sector, which is a major step towards improving the country’s connectivity and enhancing the traveller’s experience.
Also read- Big boost to tourism in Budget 2026: New hospitality institute, training of 10 thousand guides and heritage mission.
What is the biggest travel related announcement in Budget 2026?
Budget 2026 announces 7 new high-speed rail corridors and significant infrastructure investments in railways.
Which cities will be connected by the high-speed rail corridor?
Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi, and Varanasi-Siliguri.
Has international travel become cheaper in Budget 2026?
Yes, TCS (Tax Collected at Source) on foreign travel has been reduced to 2 percent, making international travel cheaper.
What are the main points for the tourism sector in the budget?
The budget has focused on projects like tourism guide training, trekking and hiking destinations, eco-tourism and tortoise conservation.
What provisions have been made for Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in the budget?
A provision of ₹5,000 crore has been made for the development of tier-2 and tier-3 cities, especially temple towns.