The World Travel & Tourism Council, India Initiative (WTTCII) Paves the Way for Tourism Development with New Office Bearers for 2026–2028

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The World Travel & Tourism Council, India Initiative (WTTCII), a leading private sector voice for India’s Travel and Tourism industry, has announced the appointment of its new office bearers for the 2026–2028 term. These appointments were confirmed during the WTTCII Annual General Meeting held in New Delhi, marking an important milestone for the country’s tourism sector.

New Leadership at WTTCII

The newly appointed leadership at WTTCII includes Dr. Jyotsna Suri, who has been appointed as the Chair for the 2026–2028 term. Dr. Suri is the Chairperson and Managing Director of The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group and brings significant experience to her new role. Vikram Madhok, Managing Director of Abercrombie & Kent, India, has been appointed Vice Chair, while Ragini Chopra, Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs at InterGlobe Enterprises, takes on the role of Vice Chair – Advocacy. These appointments are seen as a strategic move to guide India’s Travel and Tourism sector toward growth and global competitiveness.

Acknowledging Leadership and Commitment

Deep Kalra, the Founder & Chairman of MakeMyTrip India Pvt. Ltd., completed his tenure as the Outgoing Chair. WTTCII has placed on record its appreciation for Kalra’s leadership during his term. His guidance helped steer the Council through a high-intensity agenda focused on reforms, investment facilitation and sustainability. Kalra’s leadership is widely recognized for its focus on ensuring that India’s travel sector scaled responsibly, both regionally and globally.

Kalra expressed his gratitude for leading WTTCII and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to working alongside both central and state governments to support the long-term growth of India’s tourism sector. He highlighted that the sector’s success would require continuous collaboration and pointed out the inclusion of Airbnb and Hilton as new WTTCII members as a significant achievement, further broadening the Council’s platform and influence across the global travel ecosystem.

Strengthening Tourism at the State Level

Dr. Jyotsna Suri emphasized that the Union Budget of 2026 had set a clear direction for tourism development, with delivery now resting on execution at the state level. She stressed that where tourism policy and investment meet visitor experience is at the state level, which plays a crucial role in shaping India’s global tourism appeal. She mentioned WTTCII’s ongoing engagement with various state governments, such as the Goa Tourism Board and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Government of Tamil Nadu, aimed at improving project timelines, destination management and quality standards.

Dr. Suri pointed out that the execution of tourism policies at the state level would be crucial in transforming India into a global tourism hub. Her leadership at WTTCII will focus on ensuring that tourism projects are completed on time and with a high standard of quality.

Enhancing Inbound Tourism to India

Vikram Madhok discussed the importance of enhancing India’s tourism infrastructure to support inbound tourism. He emphasized the need for seamless access, improved connectivity and international marketing efforts. Madhok highlighted that better-run destinations would play a pivotal role in attracting high-value international visitors, thus contributing to the country’s year-round tourism growth. He also mentioned the new visa application platform that the Government of India is expected to launch later this year, which would improve the visitor experience and make it easier for international travelers to explore India.

A Focus on International Marketing and Advocacy

Ragini Chopra, in her role as Vice Chair – Advocacy, underlined the need for a focused international marketing campaign to promote India’s tourism potential. Chopra stressed the importance of a well-coordinated effort between WTTCII’s diverse membership, including airlines, hospitality, travel services, online travel agencies and public sector undertakings, to push for practical reforms and ensure the seamless execution of tourism policies at the state level.

Chopra’s advocacy efforts will focus on leveraging WTTCII’s influence to help governments adopt evidence-led solutions and implement tourism policies that will drive measurable performance improvements for India’s travel and tourism sector.