Industry experts in the North-East have expressed their approval of the Union Budget 2026–27, highlighting its focus on services-led growth, tourism infrastructure, connectivity, and skill development as key drivers for sustainable regional expansion.
Leaders in real estate development and hospitality sectors view the Budget as a boost to investor confidence, positioning the North-East to benefit significantly from India’s upcoming growth phase.
Vikas Agarwal, Managing Director & CEO of SM Developers, emphasized that the Budget’s emphasis on services-driven growth, tourism infrastructure, and public capital expenditure sets the stage for long-term infrastructure development while maintaining macroeconomic stability.
The Budget’s allocation of Rs 12.2 lakh crore for capital expenditure, coupled with a commitment to fiscal consolidation, is seen as a positive step towards enhancing infrastructure creation without compromising economic stability.
The proposal to establish five regional medical tourism hubs and develop tourism circuits in the North-East is considered timely, aligning with the evolving travel trends focusing on pilgrimage sites, wellness destinations, and secondary cities.
Improved connectivity measures, including incentives for seaplane manufacturing and operations, are expected to enhance accessibility to under-connected areas and boost the viability of hospitality and mixed-use projects in cities like Guwahati.
The integration of infrastructure investments with human capital initiatives, such as training tourist guides and setting up a National Institute of Hospitality, is seen as a strategic move to attract tourism-related investments in a stable and scalable environment.
Vineet Kumar Mishra, General Manager of Novotel, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the Budget’s recognition of tourism and hospitality sectors as significant contributors to employment, services growth, and regional development.
The Budget’s focus on infrastructure expansion, destination development, and professional skilling is seen as a positive step towards addressing the long-term needs of the tourism and hospitality industry.
Mishra highlighted the proposal to upgrade the National Council for Hotel Management to a National Institute of Hospitality as a crucial development that bridges the gap between academic training and industry requirements.
The initiative to upskill 10,000 tourist guides at iconic destinations is expected to enhance service quality and visitor experience, crucial for promoting repeat tourism and building a strong tourism brand.
With increased public capital expenditure, improved air and surface connectivity, and a focus on Tier-II cities, Mishra believes cities like Guwahati are well-positioned to benefit from growth in business travel, MICE tourism, medical travel, and cultural circuits.
The Budget’s emphasis on fiscal stability and services-led growth is seen as a positive signal that strengthens demand fundamentals and operational readiness, boosting investor confidence in the emerging hospitality markets across the Northeast.
