In a significant step towards accelerating the digital transformation of India’s tourism sector, the Ministry of Tourism has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google India to strengthen the digital promotion of the country’s tourism destinations through the use of digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), data-driven insights, and capacity-building initiatives.
The MoU was exchanged in the presence of Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in New Delhi, marking a strategic collaboration aimed at enhancing India’s visibility among domestic and international travellers through innovative digital solutions.
The partnership establishes a framework for collaboration across key areas including digital tourism promotion, knowledge sharing, skill development, and the adoption of emerging technologies to improve visitor engagement and destination marketing. By leveraging Google’s digital ecosystem and technological expertise, the initiative seeks to showcase India’s diverse tourism experiences, cultural heritage, and iconic destinations to a global audience.
The agreement is non-commercial, non-binding, and non-exclusive, carrying no financial implications for either party.
The signing ceremony was attended by Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism; Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General (Tourism); senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism; and Preeti Lobana, Country Manager and Vice President, Google India, along with representatives from Google India.
Speaking on the occasion, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, “Digital technologies have the potential to create immersive experiences that can showcase the glory and grandeur of India’s cultural sites to audiences across the world. By harnessing cutting-edge digital technologies, we can transform the way travellers discover, experience and engage with India’s rich cultural and natural heritage.”
He further noted that the collaboration reflects the Ministry’s commitment to adopting technology-driven approaches under the Incredible India initiative and expressed confidence that the partnership would strengthen India’s global tourism presence, improve digital outreach, and position the country as a modern, accessible, and globally competitive tourism destination.
As part of the collaboration, Google India will provide valuable insights into global travel trends, traveller behaviour, and digital engagement patterns to support evidence-based tourism promotion strategies. The partnership will also include training and capacity-building programmes for Ministry officials focused on digital marketing tools, campaign optimisation, content creation, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The Ministry of Tourism and Google India reaffirmed their shared commitment to leveraging innovation and technology to enhance India’s tourism ecosystem and further establish the country as a preferred global travel destination.
