BITB 

Welcome to the 20th edition of Bharat International Tourism Bazaar.

What began in 2016 has over the years, transformed into one of the most influential thinking platforms for India’s travel and tourism landscape.

This is more than just an industry gathering — it’s where ideas take flight, where perspectives shift, and where tourism is not just discussed but reimagined.

From Destination India — India’s first tourism magazine in 1975 — to founding SATTE, India’s biggest travel trade show — the team behind BITB has not just witnessed Indian tourism evolve, but shaped its journey.

And here we are in 2025, celebrating this 20th edition with the theme “India Tourism Unleashed” — at a time when India’s tourism potential is being unlocked like never before — not just as a sector of economic value, but as a cultural unifier, a social catalyst, and a global force.

“What’s Trending”?

The world of travel and tourism is evolving at an electrifying pace — shaped by changing consumer behaviour, tech innovations, sustainability demands, and experiential preferences.

Infrastructure!

For that demand to truly flourish, it needs one solid backbone: Infrastructure.

Whether it’s airports, railways, highways, hotels, or digital connectivity — infrastructure is the enabler that allows tourism to scale, and transform into a sustainable economic powerhouse.

What does the industry need in terms of policy, investment, and innovation? How can we better enable hotel development, and what must be done to future-proof India’s tourism fabric?

New Delhi: Global Hub!

Can New Delhi also become a true global tourism hub? What does Delhi need to stand tall in the league of global cities? 

Is it seamless air connectivity? A more vibrant, living museum culture? Big-ticket global events?

Or is it simply better planning, amenities, and a stronger identity as a destination?

Tourism and Heritage

India tells stories.  Stories etched in stone, sung in classical raagas, stitched into sarees, and danced out in festivals. Heritage isn’t a side show to tourism in India—it’s the headline act. Yet, while we celebrate a few marquee monuments, how much are we really doing to preserve the living, breathing diversity of India’s cultural fabric?

This panel asks the difficult, vital questions: Are we preserving heritage or packaging it? Is it a government mandate, a private passion—or a shared responsibility? And most importantly, how do we turn India into a ‘lived museum’ that every citizen feels accountable for?

What’s Driving Tourism?

Tourism today is being shaped by more than just destinations — it’s the sum of many moving parts. From hotels redefining hospitality, to technology transforming travel planning, to government reforms enabling smoother movement — the ecosystem is evolving fast. India’s growing influence in the Far East, coupled with Prime Minister Modi’s rising global profile, is also opening new doors. More travelers. More partnerships. More purpose.

BITB Honours:

Celebrating those who’ve shaped the tourism and hospitality landscape with vision, resilience, and a deep sense of cultural commitment. A very special segment—BITB Honours—where we recognize individuals and institutions who have set remarkable benchmarks in our industry.

And to do the honours, we are deeply privileged to be joined by someone who embodies the very spirit of Indian heritage and leadership. As the Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, she carries forward a legacy of culture, public service, and pride in India’s royal heritage—while steering one of the country’s most iconic tourism-driven states toward a progressive future.

BITB Honours were shared among: 

ASHWANI KHURANA 

Founder and ‘Chief Eternal Optimist’ of Karma Lakelands—an award-winning eco-conscious destination in Gurugram that redefines green luxury. 

With a no-horn policy, zero single-use plastics, rainwater harvesting, solar power, and five flourishing forest zones, Karma Lakelands isn’t just a property—it’s a living, breathing vision for sustainable living.

MAKE MY TRIP 

A trailblazer that has redefined the way India travels—MakeMyTrip.

More than just an online travel giant, MakeMyTrip has become a driving force in shaping India’s tourism ecosystem. Its leadership isn’t just in the boardroom but at the very heart of the industry—steering national conversations through WTTC, CII, FICCI, IAMAI, and IndiaTech.

From partnering with the Ministry of Tourism and state governments to leading sustainability dialogues, the company’s impact goes beyond business. 

K.B. Kachru

A man who has shaped the very fabric of Indian hospitality, as Chairman of Radisson Hotel Group South Asia, he’s led the brand from its very first hotel in India to over 200 properties nationwide—a staggering achievement built on foresight, commitment, and industry-first thinking.

Beyond the boardroom, he’s President of the Hotel Association of India, a voice on national tourism boards, and a guiding force for institutions, skill councils, and spiritual destinations alike.