New Delhi, 21 July 2026: Vikram Lalvani, Chairman of the All India Resort Development Association (AIRDA) called for a more integrated tourism ecosystem that connects policy, infrastructure, hospitality investment, consumer trust and destination development.
Speaking at the FAITH Tourism Conclave 2026 during the panel discussion, “Building a Seamless Tourism Ecosystem for India,” Lalvani highlighted the role of vacation ownership and organised leisure hospitality in creating recurring demand, supporting regional economies and enabling investment in emerging destinations. The conclave was held on 16–17 July in New Delhi, under the theme “Incredible India: Invaluable Economics.”
With India recording nearly 2.95 billion domestic tourist visits in 2024, Lalvani said domestic leisure tourism should increasingly be viewed as economic infrastructure—capable of directing investment, employment and consumption into regional and non-metro markets.
He also called for differentiated policy support for leisure destinations, noting that wildlife, wellness, pilgrimage, heritage and remote resort markets face very different infrastructure, environmental and operating requirements. Swadesh Darshan 2.0’s destination-centric approach is an important step in this direction, with 53 projects worth ₹2,208.31 crore sanctioned across the country.
Vikram Lalvani, Chairman, AIRDA, and Managing Director & CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts, said: “India’s tourism opportunity cannot be unlocked through room supply alone. Domestic leisure must be recognised as economic infrastructure, supported by policies designed around complete destinations rather than individual assets. Vacation ownership adds a further advantage by creating predictable demand, enabling investment in emerging markets and supporting stable regional employment.”
He added that this requires tourism policy to recognise domestic leisure as a driver of regional economic development, while moving from uniform, property-level interventions to destination-specific planning. Better last-mile connectivity, streamlined approvals, sustainability-linked incentives and public-private partnerships can improve the viability of emerging leisure markets, to support local employment, local supply chains and private investment in new tourism circuits.
AIRDA is the nodal industry body for India’s vacation ownership, resort-development, and mixed-use resort hospitality sector working with government, hospitality operators and travel-trade partners to advance policy advocacy, ethical standards, consumer trust and sustainable destination growth. The association represents more than five lakh vacation-ownership member households across 20 member organisations.
The FAITH Tourism Conclave brought together policymakers, tourism associations, hospitality leaders and state tourism representatives to discuss tourism’s contribution to economic growth, employment and regional development.
About the All India Resort Development Association (AIRDA)
Established in 1997 by leading resort developers and RCI, the All India Resort Development Association (AIRDA) is the national industry body representing India’s vacation ownership, timeshare and mixed-use resort hospitality sector. AIRDA was formed to provide industry leadership, strengthen institutional credibility and support the structured, responsible growth of the sector.
Recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in 2005 as the nodal body for the vacation ownership and timeshare industry, AIRDA today represents more than 5,00,000 vacation-ownership member households across 20 member organisations. Its membership spans independent resort operators, multi-destination hospitality companies, mixed-use developers and exchange organisations.
For nearly three decades, AIRDA has worked to strengthen industry standards, responsible business practices and policy recognition for the sector. The association serves as the collective voice of the industry, engaging with government, hospitality stakeholders and the travel trade on resort development, regulatory frameworks, sustainable tourism and consumer protection.
AIRDA’s mission is to position vacation ownership as an important driver of domestic leisure tourism, regional economic growth and long-term hospitality investment. It supports new and existing operators through industry guidance, destination-development insights and knowledge sharing, while helping consumers make informed vacation-ownership decisions.
