The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) organised the 15th International Heritage Tourism Conclave (IHTC) on July 24, 2026, at the Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad. Supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, along with tourism boards from Telangana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, the conclave was held under the theme ‘ख़याल विरासत का (Care for Heritage)’.
The event brought together government officials, policymakers, tourism boards, museum leaders, conservation experts, hospitality professionals, academicians, technology innovators and industry stakeholders to discuss strategies for preserving India’s cultural heritage while strengthening its tourism and economic potential. A key focus of the conclave was positioning heritage, particularly culinary heritage, as an important pillar of India’s tourism economy.
One of the major highlights of the event was the launch of the third edition of the PHDCCI-KPMG Report on Heritage Tourism. The report outlines recommendations to strengthen India’s heritage tourism ecosystem through policy reforms, destination planning, investment facilitation, digital innovation, skill development and greater industry participation.
During the conclave, PHDCCI and Axis Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance collaboration in the tourism and hospitality sector. The agreement aims to support industry engagement and initiatives that contribute to the growth of tourism and hospitality in India.
Speaking at the conclave, Venkatramana R. Hegde, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, said, “India has made significant progress in strengthening its global tourism competitiveness, supported by substantial investments in tourism infrastructure and heritage development. With more than 3,300 protected monuments and billions of domestic tourist visits annually, the opportunity before us is to improve destination infrastructure, visitor experiences and ease of doing business. Tourism deserves industry status and stronger partnerships between governments, industry and institutions such as PHDCCI will be essential for unlocking the sector’s full potential.”
Highlighting Madhya Pradesh’s approach to heritage tourism, Dr. Abhay Arvind Bedekar (IAS), Additional Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, said, “From UNESCO World Heritage Sites to community traditions and innovative partnerships, Madhya Pradesh is working to demonstrate how conservation can generate tourism opportunities while safeguarding cultural identity.”
L. Ranjeet Nayak (IFS), Director – Tourism, Government of Telangana, noted, “Our focus is on opening heritage assets for responsible private participation, strengthening destination development, leveraging Artificial Intelligence to enrich visitor experiences and creating employment by training young people as heritage interpreters and guides.”
Speaking on the importance of heritage tourism, Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI, highlighted, “India’s cultural heritage is one of its greatest strengths and has the potential to become a significant driver of sustainable economic development. The next phase of heritage tourism must combine conservation with transformation by leveraging digital technologies, innovation and stronger partnerships between government, industry and cultural institutions.”
Anil Parashar, Chair – Tourism & Hospitality Committee, PHDCCI, added, “India’s monuments, museums, crafts, cuisine, performing arts and living traditions together create experiences that few countries can offer. By embracing emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, immersive storytelling and virtual reality while empowering local communities, we can preserve our legacy and simultaneously build a globally competitive heritage tourism ecosystem.”
Emphasising Hyderabad’s heritage potential, Gautam Jain, Chair – Telangana Chapter, PHDCCI, said, “Hyderabad is a living museum where every monument, market, craft and culinary tradition tells a story. Alongside its emergence as a global investment destination, Telangana has recognised tourism as an important engine of economic growth. By strengthening collaboration between government and industry and encouraging greater investment, Hyderabad has the potential to become one of Asia’s leading heritage tourism destinations.”
The conclave concluded with a vote of thanks by Rajan Sehgal, Co-Chair – Tourism & Hospitality Committee, PHDCCI, who reiterated the importance of preserving both tangible and intangible heritage to build a sustainable and globally competitive tourism sector.
The event also facilitated more than 30 structured B2B meetings between state tourism boards, hospitality companies, tour operators, travel businesses and cultural enterprises, encouraging collaboration and business development across the sector.
