India Strengthens Its Heritage Tourism Vision As 15th International Heritage Tourism Conclave In Hyderabad Brings Government, Industry Leaders And Experts Together To Unlock The Economic Power Of Culture, Cuisine, Conservation And Sustainable Travel

Written By: Ricky Acharjee

Ricky Acharjee

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July 25, 2026 11:59 GMT+5:30

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A renewed national focus on transforming heritage, with special emphasis on India’s rich culinary traditions, into a major driver of tourism growth and economic development was highlighted during the 15th International Heritage Tourism Conclave (IHTC). The event, organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) on 24 July 2026 at the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad, called for stronger private sector involvement, improved investment opportunities, wider use of technology and deeper participation from local communities to strengthen India’s heritage tourism ecosystem.

Held under the theme “ख़याल विरासत का (Care for Heritage)” with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the conclave served as a platform for policymakers, government representatives, tourism boards, museum professionals, conservation specialists, hospitality leaders, academics, technology experts and industry stakeholders to discuss ways to protect India’s cultural identity while creating new opportunities through heritage-based tourism.

The event received support from several state tourism boards, including Telangana Tourism, Jharkhand Tourism, Madhya Pradesh Tourism, Rajasthan Tourism and Tamil Nadu Tourism, reflecting a collective effort to promote heritage destinations and strengthen tourism development across different regions of India.

A key highlight of the conclave was the launch of the third edition of the PHDCCI-KPMG Report on Heritage Tourism, which outlined important recommendations to build a stronger and more sustainable heritage tourism framework in India. The report focused on improving policy structures, developing better destinations, encouraging investment, expanding digital solutions, upgrading skills and increasing collaboration between the government and private sector.

The report also underlined the growing role of heritage tourism in creating employment opportunities, supporting regional economic growth and safeguarding India’s cultural assets. It presented strategies aimed at enhancing visitor experiences, improving destination management and attracting greater private investment to unlock the full potential of India’s heritage tourism sector.

Addressing the conclave, Mr. Venkatramana R. Hegde, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working closely with states and industry to strengthen India’s tourism ecosystem. “India has made significant progress in strengthening its global tourism competitiveness, supported by substantial investments in tourism infrastructure and heritage development. With more than 3,300 protected monuments and billions of domestic tourist visits annually, the opportunity before us is to improve destination infrastructure, visitor experiences and ease of doing business. Tourism deserves industry status and stronger partnerships between governments, industry and institutions such as PHDCCI will be essential for unlocking the sector’s full potential.”

Dr. Abhay Arvind Bedekar (IAS), Additional Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, emphasized that conservation and tourism must progress together. “Heritage is both tangible and intangible and preserving it requires commitment, collaboration and pride. From UNESCO World Heritage Sites to community traditions and innovative partnerships, Madhya Pradesh is working to demonstrate how conservation can generate tourism opportunities while safeguarding cultural identity. Platforms like this conclave are invaluable in sharing ideas and strengthening collective efforts towards heritage preservation.”

Speaking on Telangana’s tourism vision, Mr. L. Ranjeet Nayak (IFS), Director – Tourism, Government of Telangana, said the state is committed to creating an enabling ecosystem for heritage-led development. “Telangana is the youngest state in India, yet it possesses one of the country’s richest cultural legacies. Our focus is on opening heritage assets for responsible private participation, strengthening destination development, leveraging Artificial Intelligence to enrich visitor experiences and creating employment by training young people as heritage interpreters and guides. What we preserve today will become the heritage of tomorrow.”

Welcoming the delegates, Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI, said heritage tourism has emerged as a powerful catalyst for economic growth, employment generation and community empowerment. “India’s cultural heritage is one of its greatest strengths and has the potential to become a significant driver of sustainable economic development. The next phase of heritage tourism must combine conservation with transformation by leveraging digital technologies, innovation and stronger partnerships between government, industry and cultural institutions.”

Delivering the theme address, Mr. Anil Parashar, Chair – Tourism & Hospitality Committee, PHDCCI, said India’s heritage tourism strategy must move beyond preserving monuments towards creating meaningful visitor experiences rooted in culture and community. “Heritage belongs to all of us and preserving it is a shared responsibility. India’s monuments, museums, crafts, cuisine, performing arts and living traditions together create experiences that few countries can offer. By embracing emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, immersive storytelling and virtual reality while empowering local communities, we can preserve our legacy and simultaneously build a globally competitive heritage tourism ecosystem.”

Mr. Gautam Jain, Chair – Telangana Chapter, PHDCCI, highlighted the city’s unique position as a destination where history, hospitality and modern infrastructure come together. “Hyderabad is a living museum where every monument, market, craft and culinary tradition tells a story. Alongside its emergence as a global investment destination, Telangana has recognized tourism as an important engine of economic growth. By strengthening collaboration between government and industry and encouraging greater investment, Hyderabad has the potential to become one of Asia’s leading heritage tourism destinations.”

Mr. Sunil Kumar, Co-Chair – Telangana Chapter, PHDCCI, said the future of tourism lies in creating memorable experiences rather than simply increasing visitor numbers. “Travellers today seek authenticity, whether through heritage, cuisine, local traditions or cultural experiences. India’s diversity gives us a unique competitive advantage, but unlocking its full tourism potential will require investment in skills, digital connectivity, destination infrastructure and stronger participation from local communities. Heritage tourism can play an important role in achieving India’s long-term economic aspirations.”

The opening session of the conclave concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Rajan Sehgal, Co-Chair of the Tourism & Hospitality Committee at PHDCCI. He highlighted that protecting both physical heritage assets and living cultural traditions remains essential for developing a sustainable, resilient and internationally competitive heritage tourism ecosystem.

A significant milestone during the conclave was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PHDCCI and Axis Bank to enhance cooperation in the tourism and hospitality industry. The agreement was signed by Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO and Secretary General, PHDCCI, and Mr. Shrikesh P., Regional Branch Banking Head, Axis Bank. The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration with industry stakeholders and support initiatives focused on accelerating growth, innovation and development within the tourism and hospitality sectors.

The conclave featured four specialised knowledge sessions that examined key trends, emerging opportunities and strategic priorities shaping the future of heritage tourism.

The session titled ‘The New Age of Museums’, moderated by Mr. Aalap Bansal, Partner at KPMG India, explored the changing role of museums in modern tourism. Speakers discussed how museums are evolving from traditional spaces preserving artefacts into dynamic cultural destinations that encourage learning, tourism experiences and community participation. Ms. Priyanka Francis (IAS), Director of Salar Jung Museum and National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru; Mr. Ajay B. Kochle, Director of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya; Prof. Aloka Parasher Sen, Author and Historian; Ms. Anuradha Reddy, Convenor of INTACH Hyderabad Chapter; and Ms. Shoba Rudra, Partner and Founder of RARE India, shared perspectives on changing tourist expectations, immersive storytelling methods, sustainable museum operations and stronger connections between museums, heritage areas and local communities.

The second session, ‘Food is Memory’, moderated by Chef Thomas Zacharias, Founder of The Locavore, focused on the importance of culinary traditions as a powerful driver of tourism and destination branding. The discussion highlighted how regional cuisines can preserve cultural identity while supporting local economies. Chef Manjit Gill, President of the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations; Chef Madhu W. Krishnan, President of Bocuse d’Or India; Mr. Sanjay Thakur, Principal of the Institute of Hotel Management, Hyderabad; and Mr. Rubin Cherian, General Manager of Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and HICC, discussed strategies to protect traditional food practices, promote indigenous cuisines, encourage sustainable culinary tourism and create stronger partnerships between local producers, hospitality businesses and travellers.

The third session, ‘Shared Heritage, Shared Responsibility’, moderated by Ms. Shalini S. Sharma, Assistant Secretary General at PHDCCI, examined the importance of collaborative approaches for heritage preservation. Experts discussed the role of government agencies, private organisations and communities in protecting heritage assets through effective partnerships. Mr. D. Venkatesan, Regional Director (South), Ministry of Tourism; Dr. Devendra Singh, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India; Mr. Deepraj Singh, EC Member of Indian Heritage Hotels Association and Owner of Laxmi Vilas Palace, Bharatpur; Mr. Raju Sharma, Director – CSR, InterGlobe Aviation Ltd (IndiGo); and Mr. Ajay Verma, Chief Experience Officer, EaseMyTrip, explored topics including adaptive reuse of historic properties, CSR-supported conservation projects, expansion of the Adopt a Heritage programme and policy measures encouraging responsible investment while safeguarding cultural heritage.

The final session, ‘Tech, AI & the Future of the Past’, moderated by Mr. Raghava Krishna, Founder and CEO of Brhat, focused on the growing role of technology in protecting and presenting heritage. Speakers examined how Artificial Intelligence, virtual reality and immersive digital solutions are reshaping heritage documentation, conservation and visitor engagement. Dr. Shiva Ji, Associate Professor at IIT Hyderabad; Mr. Ajit Padmanabh, Founder and CEO of Who VR; Mr. Vijay P. Kamalakara, Founder and CEO of Storytrails; and Mr. Santosh Kalyan Kumar, Founder and CEO of Consistency AI and Jatayuv AI, presented examples of digital twins, AI-powered multilingual tools, immersive narratives and virtual experiences. The session emphasised that technology should enhance authentic cultural stories while maintaining the originality and emotional value of heritage.

Beyond knowledge-sharing sessions, the conclave created opportunities for industry networking through more than 30 structured B2B meetings involving state tourism boards, hospitality companies, travel operators, tourism enterprises and cultural organisations. These interactions aimed to encourage new partnerships, business opportunities and collaborative projects across the heritage tourism value chain.

The event also extended into experiential learning through specially designed heritage activities for delegates. Before the conclave, PHDCCI organised a heritage walk at Taj Falaknuma Palace on 23 July, allowing participants to explore Hyderabad’s royal history, architectural excellence and conservation efforts. The conclave concluded with another heritage walk on 25 July covering iconic locations including Charminar, Laad Bazaar and the historic neighbourhoods of Hyderabad’s Old City. Delegates experienced the region’s living heritage through traditional crafts, historic markets, cultural landmarks and local culinary traditions.

The conclave received support from several leading tourism and industry organisations, including IndiGo, Axis Bank, IRCTC, Bakshi Transport Service, KPMG, Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA) and Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI). Their participation strengthened efforts to promote heritage tourism as a key pillar of sustainable tourism development and economic growth.