Budget 2026: Tourism Gets Major Boost with Medical Hubs, Global Big Cat Summit

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced significant tourism initiatives in Budget 2026.
• Plans include developing heritage sites, a Global Big Cat Summit with 95 countries, and guide training for 20 iconic locations.
• Focus on medical tourism hubs aims to boost healthcare with research facilities, benefiting hospital and diagnostic chains.
• 15 archaeological sites, including Sarnath and Hastinapur, will be developed into cultural destinations.
• Mountain trains proposed for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir to enhance tourism in hill states.

Why It Matters: Budget 2026 allocates substantial funds to boost tourism, healthcare, and cultural heritage across India.