India Travel & Tourism Sustainability Conclave 2025 Charts Roadmap for Conscious Tourism
New Delhi, April 16, 2025: The India Travel & Tourism Sustainability Conclave 2025, jointly hosted by the MakeMyTrip Foundation and the World Travel & Tourism Council India Initiative (WTTCII), convened an influential gathering of policymakers, industry leaders, and sustainability experts at the Taj Mahal Hotel, today. The day-long event focussed on environmental stewardship, economic resilience, and community empowerment, fostering dynamic dialogue and cross-sector collaboration; marking a decisive step towards reimagining India’s travel landscape through the lens of sustainability, inclusivity, and long-term impact.
Keynote: Reviving India’s Sustainable Ethos
Union Minister for Tourism & Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in his keynote address, emphasised India’s ancient cultural roots in sustainability. “Our society respected nature long before ‘sustainability’ became a buzzword,” he said. The minister stressed the imperative for behavioural change, urging that meaningful sustainability dialogue must translate into collective action across all stakeholders.
Deep Kalra, chairperson of WTTCII and managing trustee of MakeMyTrip Foundation, asserted that sustainability must be central to the sector’s growth, requiring alignment between policy, industry, and grassroots implementation.
Industry Participation
Over 30 leaders from sectors including aviation, hospitality, transport, and academia contributed to the discussions. Organisations such as Air India Express, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, ITC, IHCL, Lemon Tree Hotels, Sarovar Hotels, GreenCell, Chalo, Momentum India, IIM Lucknow, TERI, and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) were represented by their top leadership, who shared real-world insights and perspectives.
Milestone Launch: Sustainable Hospitality Handbook
A highlight of the event was the digital unveiling of the Sustainable Hospitality Handbook, developed by Hotel Association of India (HAI) and MakeMyTrip. The comprehensive guide provides hotels across all categories with a practical blueprint to adopt eco-friendly practices across energy, waste, water, and community engagement, backed by global standards and contextualised Indian case studies.
Sectoral Dialogues: From Ambition to Action
The conclave focussed on five key themes: hospitality, aviation, mobility, climate action, and responsible tourism. Discussions revolved around practical strategies such as decarbonising aviation, electrifying public transport, reducing resource consumption in hotels, strengthening local economies, and fostering a shared sense of responsibility – where both individuals and stakeholders play an active role in advancing sustainable tourism.
It marked a significant step toward embedding sustainability at the heart of India’s tourism sector, laying the groundwork for actionable progress that balances environmental stewardship with economic growth and community development.
Next Steps: A Collective Call to Action
The conclave concluded with a unifying message: sustainability is a shared responsibility. Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip, emphasised that systemic change begins with individual accountability. Discussions centred on fostering collaborative ecosystems, where best practices are shared, and every decision prioritises long-term benefits over short-term gains.
Why It Matters
As India sets its sights on $216.7 million in projected tourism revenue by 2034, this conclave marks a pivotal shift: sustainability is no longer a peripheral concern but a core driver of resilience and global competitiveness. The transition from top-down directives to grassroots ownership signals a maturing sustainability ethos within the industry. By reframing responsibility as both collective and deeply personal – where responsible tourism and responsible tourists go hand in hand – the sector is working to embed conscious decision-making into every facet of the travel experience, from procurement policies in hotels to the everyday choices of travellers.
