India showcased its diverse tourism offerings and held key bilateral meetings with Germany and Indonesia during the global travel exhibition ITB Berlin 2026 held at Messe Berlin in Germany from March 3 to 5.
Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the India Pavilion at the event and held discussions with international counterparts to strengthen tourism cooperation and promote sustainable travel.
During the visit, Shekhawat held bilateral meetings with Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, Tourism Minister of Indonesia, and Christoph Ploß, Federal Government Commissioner for Tourism of Germany. The discussions focused on enhancing tourism flows, expanding air connectivity, promoting sustainable tourism and strengthening people-to-people ties.
The minister also met Shaikha Al Nowais, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization, to discuss ways to advance sustainable and regenerative tourism initiatives.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the event, Shekhawat said Germany remains one of India’s most significant tourism partners. According to Tourism Ministry, Germany ranked as the eighth-largest source market for foreign tourists to India, with around 260,000 visitors arriving from Germany in 2025.
India participated in the exhibition with a large delegation comprising destination management companies, tour operators, hoteliers and representatives from several state governments and union territories. The Indian delegation was joined by the country’s ambassador to Germany, Ajit Gupte.
During the event, the Tourism Minister also launched two short promotional films produced in partnership with Netflix for the Incredible India initiative. One film highlights India’s culture, festivals and heritage, while the other focuses on the diversity of Indian cuisine.
Under the collaboration, the Ministry of Tourism and Netflix plan to release ten short promotional videos over the coming year, showcasing different aspects of India’s tourism experiences including adventure, wildlife, natural beauty and culinary traditions.
The India Pavilion at ITB Berlin highlighted the country’s rich cultural heritage and a wide range of tourism segments such as spiritual and wellness tourism, wedding tourism, adventure travel, ecotourism and gourmet experiences.
Several states including Rajasthan, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttarakhand, along with the union territories of Ladakh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, participated in the pavilion to promote their destinations to international buyers.
The ministry said the exhibition provided an important platform for strengthening global tourism partnerships, establishing new business contacts and promoting India as a year-round travel destination. Visitors to the pavilion also experienced cultural activities such as mehendi art, block printing and calligraphy, highlighting India’s craft traditions.
