Budget 2026: Five Medical Tourism Hubs, New Ayurveda Institutes and Major Push for Tourism Announced
Union Budget Focuses on Religious Tourism Corridors, 10,000 Guides to Be Trained: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday announced a major push for healthcare and tourism in the Union Budget 2026, with a focus on employment generation, wellness, and sustainable development. Presenting the budget in Parliament, she said India will promote multiple forms of tourism, including medical, wellness, eco, and cultural tourism.
To position India as a global hub for medical tourism, the Finance Minister announced the establishment of five regional medical tourism hubs across the country. These hubs will be developed in partnership with state governments and the private sector. Each hub will offer modern hospitals, advanced diagnostic facilities, post-treatment care, rehabilitation services, and Ayush-based therapies such as Ayurveda, Yoga, and Homeopathy under one roof. The initiative aims to attract more international patients, boost healthcare services, and generate employment.
Strengthening the health and wellness sector further, the budget proposes setting up three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda and upgrading the World Health Organization’s Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar. In addition, a loan subsidy scheme will be launched to improve veterinary infrastructure, expanding the reach of healthcare services and supporting the wellness ecosystem.
Boost to Religious Tourism as Budget Plans Training for 10,000 Guides
Tourism was highlighted as a key driver of employment and regional development. The government plans to develop eco-friendly trekking and hiking trails in hilly and natural regions, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Araku Valley, and the Western Ghats. Special nature trails will be created at turtle nesting sites in Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala, while bird-watching tourism will be promoted around Pulicat Lake.
To enhance tourism infrastructure, sustainable mountain trails will be developed in Himalayan states, and the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology will be upgraded to the National Institute of Hospitality. The institute will act as a bridge between academia, industry, and government to strengthen skills and education in the hospitality sector.
10,000 Tourist Guides to Receive Training Under Budget 2026–27 Plan
The Finance Minister also announced the development of 15 archaeological sites, including Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Sarnath, Hastinapur, and Leh Palace, as living cultural tourism centres to showcase India’s heritage in a dynamic and engaging manner.
To improve service quality and employment opportunities, a pilot programme to train 10,000 tourist guides across 20 major destinations will be launched. The training will be a 12-week standardized hybrid course in collaboration with the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
Additionally, new tourist destinations will be developed in five Purvodaya states, and 4,000 e-buses will be introduced to strengthen tourist transportation.
The budget also proposes the creation of a National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid, a unified digital platform to preserve and showcase information on India’s cultural, spiritual, and historical sites, enhancing the global visibility of the country’s key destinations.
Overall, the budget places strong emphasis on integrating healthcare, tourism, technology, and sustainability to boost employment and economic growth.
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