Budget 2026: Tourism Industry Demands Higher Allocation for 'Brand India' Promotion

• The tourism industry seeks increased budget allocation in Union Budget 2026 to promote 'Brand India' globally and attract foreign tourists.
• Industry leaders like Mahesh Iyer (Thomas Cook) and Ravi Gosain (IATO) highlight the need for more funds for global marketing campaigns such as Incredible India.
• The budget for promotion and publicity abroad significantly decreased from Rs 33 crore in FY25 to Rs 3 crore in FY26, raising concerns.
• A dedicated 'India Tourism Promotion Board' with adequate funding is proposed to boost India's international marketing efforts.
• The industry also calls for a simplified, uniform 1% TCS rate instead of multiple rates to ease tax complexities.

Why It Matters: The tourism industry urges the government for higher budget allocation and policy changes to boost foreign tourism and employment.