India Powers Tourism Awareness With Great Indian Tourism Quiz Showcasing Culture, Cuisine and Hidden Gems

Marking World Tourism Day, GRT Hotels & Resorts organised the first edition of The Great Indian Tourism Quiz 2026, a large-scale knowledge competition designed to showcase India’s cultural depth, historical legacy, regional traditions, cuisine and lesser-known travel destinations.

The competition attracted more than 7,000 participants from 58 cities across 10 countries, giving the event both national and international reach. Thousands of contestants also joined virtually and competed online in real time, significantly expanding participation beyond the physical venue.

Positioned as a major tourism-focused quiz initiative in India, the event tested participants on a wide range of subjects connected with the country’s travel identity. Questions covered Indian history, regional food traditions, wildlife, architecture, cultural heritage and destination knowledge, creating a broad platform for promoting awareness of India’s tourism diversity.

The quiz was conducted by Nawabzada Mohammed Asif Ali, Dewan to the Prince of Arcot, who took on the role of Quiz Master for the inaugural edition.

The programme was held in collaboration with India Tourism and received support from several tourism, trade and institutional organisations, including Tamil Nadu Tourism, ASSOCHAM, IATO, SICCI, SIHRA, SKÅL International India and the Sustainable Development Council, associated with the United Nations.

Following several competitive rounds, the highest-performing teams were recognised for their strong knowledge of India’s tourism landscape. Participants faced questions covering history, regional culture, food traditions, wildlife, architecture and destinations, making the competition both challenging and educational.

The winning teams received a range of attractive prizes, including luxury experiential stays across the GRT Hotels & Resorts portfolio. Additional rewards were also presented, adding an experiential travel element to the competition and giving winners an opportunity to explore hospitality and destinations beyond the quiz itself.

Beyond the prizes, the initiative was designed to strengthen public interest in India’s diverse tourism offerings. By combining travel knowledge with an interactive competition, the event highlighted how history, cuisine, nature, architecture and regional traditions collectively shape the country’s tourism identity.

The programme also brought greater attention to both well-established attractions and emerging travel destinations across India. Its wider focus on regional experiences and cultural assets helped showcase the variety available to travellers while encouraging participants to discover destinations, traditions and experiences that may receive less mainstream attention.

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“Through the Great Indian Tourism Quiz, our goal was to inspire travel lovers to rediscover
our extraordinary destinations, rich culture, heritage, art, music and diverse regional food.
Seeing trivia enthusiasts unite on World Tourism Day reinforces our commitment to
celebrating India’s incredible diversity and inspiring more people to explore, experience and
connect with the many stories that make our country truly unique. I sincerely thank all our
trade and institutional partners for making this landmark event a resounding success.” –
Vikram Cotah, CEO, GRT Hotels & Resorts