The event commenced with a compelling keynote address by Ankush Nijhawan, Co-Founder & Joint Managing Director at TBO Tek Limited, whose mind-boggling presentation offered a sweeping overview of the evolving global travel ecosystem. Taking the audience through current trends in inbound and outbound tourism, he highlighted how the sector is witnessing unprecedented growth, driven by higher traveller spend, expanding aviation networks and rapidly changing consumer behaviour. He shone a spotlight on niche segments such as MICE, weddings and domestic travel, underlining their growing role in redefining tourism dynamics.
“Global tourism is expanding like never before – more people are travelling, exploring more destinations and spending more. India’s 75,000+ travel agents are a powerful force, and the future lies in immersive, offbeat, luxury and gourmet-led experiences, powered by Human–AI collaboration, live tourism events, cruise travel and wellness tourism,” said Ankush, setting the tone for a forward-looking conclave.
This was followed by a powerful address by Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary – Tourism, Culture & Home and Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, who presented a strong state perspective on tourism development. Emphasising the state’s diverse tourism offerings, he stated, “Madhya Pradesh is ideally placed and offers enriching experiences for singles, families, Gen Z travellers, adventure enthusiasts and wildlife lovers. Our offerings cater to every kind of traveller, and we are committed to strengthening our global footprint with equal focus on domestic and international markets.”
The first thematic session, “Smart Inbound: Using AI to Attract the World to India,” brought together a distinguished panel moderated by Himmat Anand, Chief Visionary Officer, Snowfox Escapes. The panellists included Shri Suman Billa, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Anil Parashar, Executive Director, ITQ, Ajay K. Bakaya, Chairman, Sarovar Hotels, Ravi Gosain, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Anshul Sethi, Head of Sales – India, IndiGo, and Prateek Hira, President & CEO, Tornos.
The discussion centred on how artificial intelligence can revolutionise inbound tourism through data analytics, predictive tools and smart marketing. The session witnessed vibrant interaction, with four to five questions from the audience, making it highly engaging and participative.
In his special address, Shri Suman Billa, announced the reboot of the iconic Incredible India campaign, underlining the focus on Artificial Intelligence, destination storytelling and strategic partnerships. “AI is inevitable and has revolutionised the way of doing things. It helps create customised solutions tailored for travellers. We must develop synergy between states, adopting nimble and flexible strategies while embracing a unified ‘One India’ approach,” he stated.
A key highlight of the conclave was the official launch of CSR-ESG Impact, a special BOTT initiative promoting Responsible Tourism and CSR, unveiled by Shri Suman Billa, alongside ten partner association heads representing the industry bodies supporting the BOTT Knowledge Conclave.
Session 2, “The New Age of Travel: Decoding the Next-Gen Explorer,” was moderated by Vir Sanghvi, Author and Senior Journalist, and featured an eclectic panel comprising Sanjay Kumar, Executive Director, SpiceJet, Himanshu Patil, President, OTOAI, Seema Roy, Area Managing Director – South Asia, Middle East & Africa, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Vikramjit Singh, Founder & CMD, ALIVAA Hotels, and Vikramjeet Sharma, Founder & MD, Le Florence Weddings. The lively session explored evolving traveller psychology, personalised journeys, premium experiences and the rising demand for destination and sustainable weddings, with Mr. Sanghvi ensuring an engaging and spirited exchange of ideas.
The conclave concluded with an elegant networking dinner, providing a perfect setting for collaboration and meaningful interactions among industry leaders. The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Ms. Gunjan Sabikhi, Director, BOTT, acknowledging the unwavering support of stakeholders, partners and participants.
Summing up the spirit of the conclave, Priyanka Saxena Ray, Editor, BOTT, remarked, “The BOTT Knowledge Conclave represented a crucial platform where policy meets practice and vision meets execution. As India positions itself as a global tourism powerhouse, the integration of artificial intelligence into our tourism strategy is no longer optional—it’s imperative. This conclave catalysed meaningful conversations that translated into actionable strategies for 2026 and beyond.”
With strong backing from the Government of India’s Incredible India initiative and the presenting partner states Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, the BOTT Knowledge Conclave reaffirmed India’s collective commitment to innovation, sustainability and global leadership in tourism.
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