He emphasized the need for central policy leadership, given that “tourism is a state subject, so the states are meant to adopt and implement sustainability guidelines. But they often look to the Union Ministry of Tourism for direction.” He acknowledged that “states are smart enough to implement the tourism policy, but what they need is direction from the Centre.”
Ramkumar pointed to Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh as early movers, noting that “Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh have included provisions in their tourism policies offering 50 per cent subsidies on GSTC certification fees for tour operators and hotels.” However, he also highlighted a key gap: “Gujarat is the first state in India to offer a subsidy for hotels. But when I asked the Tourism Secretary if there were any budgetary allocations, the answer was negative. That is the gap between policy on paper and real-world impact.”
The article also featured Subha Bhaskar, COO of QualStar, India’s first certification body focused on hotel-specific sustainability standards, which partners with UCSL, a GSTC-accredited certification body. She explained, “The GSTC Standards are comprehensive, aligning closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). What makes the criteria unique is their holistic approach; they span the full scope of the SDGs, ensuring every aspect of sustainability is addressed.”
Mr. Ramkumar also mentioned global policy models that India could learn from: “Turkey’s bold move mandated that every tourism establishment be certified by a GSTC-accredited body within 10 years or risk losing their license. Singapore also has set a target that by 2030, 60% of its hotel inventory must be certified sustainable under GSTC Standards.”
The message from both Ramkumar and Bhaskar was clear: India’s tourism sector has the intent and talent needed to move forward, but unlocking its potential will require government direction, active budgeting, and global alignment.
