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Held under India’s BRICS Chairship, the meeting focused on technology, sustainability, skilling and seamless travel while reinforcing tourism’s role in economic growth and cultural exchange.
The BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, chaired by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, concluded in Jaipur with the adoption of the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Communiqué 2026, or Jaipur Declaration. The meeting marked the culmination of the BRICS Tourism Track under India’s 2026 Chairship, themed “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Representatives from nine BRICS Member States participated, including ministerial delegations from Brazil, Iran, South Africa and the UAE, along with representatives from China, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Russia. India was represented by senior officials including Tourism Secretary Bhuvnesh Kumar and Joint Secretary Harikishore S.
The Jaipur Declaration identifies four key areas for cooperation — Artificial Intelligence and Tourism, Sustainability and Responsible Tourism, Tourism Skilling and Capacity Building, and Tourism Exchanges and Seamless Travel Facilitation. It also advocates responsible use of AI and digital technologies for destination management, visitor services, multilingual communication and travel facilitation.
The communiqué places further emphasis on community-led tourism, preservation of natural and cultural heritage, tourism infrastructure and investment, continuous skilling, industry-academia partnerships and greater exchange of tourism data and best practices among BRICS countries.
Addressing delegates, Shekhawat underlined tourism’s potential to support India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision by generating opportunities beyond major cities and supporting hotels, homestays, guides, artisans, entrepreneurs and local communities. India also held bilateral discussions with Brazil, Iran, South Africa and the UAE to explore stronger tourism cooperation.
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