With data, knowledge and global benchmarking emerging as critical drivers of destination competitiveness, PATA India Chapter will host the fourth edition of Tourism PowerHouse in New Delhi on January 8, 2026, at ITC Maurya, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism. Presented by the Inder Sharma Foundation, the forum brings together senior policymakers and global tourism experts to align strategy, knowledge and execution for India’s next phase of tourism growth.
Positioned as one of the country’s most respected knowledge-led platforms, Tourism PowerHouse 2026 will be anchored around the theme Accelerating Tourism for Tomorrow: Powered by Data and Knowledge, reflecting the sector’s increasing reliance on analytics, benchmarking and informed decision-making to drive sustainable outcomes.
Noor Hamid, CEO, PATA, and Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General (Tourism), Government of India, will be among the lead voices at the forum. They will be joined by an international line-up of speakers, including Dr Senthil Gopinath, Prof Haiyan Song, Alan Merschen, Olivier Ponti, Anita Mendiratta, Matt Gibson, Ludwig Rieder and Narzalina Lim, offering global perspectives on destination competitiveness, aviation, crisis response, technology adoption and policy frameworks.
The forum is designed to deliver strategic outcomes for both national and state tourism stakeholders, enabling global knowledge transfer, strengthening public–private collaboration and supporting policy thinking aligned with India’s tourism ambitions towards 2030. A key focus will be helping states benchmark their tourism strategies against international best practices while enhancing the global visibility of Brand Incredible India.
Powered by the Inder Sharma Foundation, the Tourism PowerHouse continues to honour the legacy of the late Inder Sharma, whose belief in data-driven strategy, global learning and leadership development remains central to the platform’s vision.
Further details on the programme agenda and participation will be announced shortly.
Rahul Bhadana is a digital editor at TravTalk with experience spanning multiple content niches, with a strong focus on travel trade journalism and digital publishing. A graduate of Delhi University, his work covers editorial writing, content strategy and platform-led storytelling, supporting TravTalk’s digital growth and industry engagement. A technology enthusiast, he enjoys films, poetry and exploring new ideas across media and culture.