Hospitality Sector Seeks Single-Window Clearances, Higher Marketing Budget in Pre-Budget Talks

Tourism and hospitality industry bodies on Thursday urged the Centre to introduce a single-window clearance system for licences and boost overseas marketing budgets to help attract more foreign tourists, according to sources present at the pre-Budget meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Key industry associations—including the Hotel Association of India, Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India, Indian Association of Tour Operators, India Food Tourism Organisation, Tourist Guide Federation of India and the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India—participated in the consultation.

Besides single-window clearances, the sector also pressed for the Centre’s support in encouraging all states to grant industry status to tourism and hospitality, a longstanding demand aimed at securing easier access to incentives, utilities and credit.

Industry representatives emphasised that these reforms could significantly enhance India’s competitiveness as a global travel destination ahead of the upcoming Budget.