The Union Budget 2026–27 has outlined a comprehensive strategy to strengthen India’s tourism and healthcare ecosystems, with a focus on medical tourism, skill development, heritage conservation and destination-led employment generation.
Presenting the Budget in Parliament, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman announced a new scheme to support States in setting up five regional medical hubs in partnership with the private sector. These hubs will function as integrated healthcare complexes, combining advanced medical services with education and research facilities. They will include AYUSH centres, medical value tourism facilitation centres, diagnostic infrastructure, post-treatment care and rehabilitation services, creating diverse employment opportunities for doctors and allied health professionals.
Highlighting tourism as a key driver of jobs, foreign exchange and local economic expansion, the Finance Minister proposed the establishment of a National Institute of Hospitality by upgrading the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology. The institute will act as a vital link between academia, industry and government to strengthen professional training in the hospitality sector.
A pilot scheme has also been proposed to upskill 10,000 tourist guides across 20 iconic destinations through a standardized, high-quality 12-week hybrid training programme, to be implemented in collaboration with an Indian Institute of Management. In addition, a National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid will be created to digitally document culturally, spiritually and historically significant sites, opening up new job opportunities for researchers, historians, content creators and technology partners.
The Budget places strong emphasis on eco-tourism, with plans to develop sustainable mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, the Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats and Podhigai Malai in the Western Ghats. Turtle trails will be developed along key nesting sites in Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala, while bird-watching trails will be created around Pulikat Lake in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
On heritage and culture tourism, the Finance Minister announced the development of 15 archaeological sites, including Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Adichanallur, Sarnath, Hastinapur and Leh Palace, into experiential cultural destinations. Excavated landscapes will be made accessible through curated walkways, supported by immersive storytelling techniques, interpretation centres and upgraded conservation labs.
The Budget also reinforces regional development through the Purvodaya initiative, with proposals for an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor, a connected node at Durgapur, five new tourism destinations across the Purvodaya States and the deployment of 4,000 e-buses.
Focusing on the North-Eastern region’s rich Buddhist heritage, a dedicated scheme has been proposed for the development of Buddhist circuits in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. The scheme will support the preservation of temples and monasteries, establishment of pilgrimage interpretation centres, improved connectivity and enhanced pilgrim amenities.
Together, these initiatives reflect a coordinated approach to positioning India as a global destination for medical tourism, heritage experiences and sustainable travel, while generating employment and strengthening regional economies.
