The First Indo-American Tourism and Hospitality Summit, organized by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) in Delhi, highlighted the need to accelerate visa processing and increase the number of direct flights between India and the U.S. to boost bilateral tourism. The event brought together government officials, U.S. Embassy representatives, and key stakeholders from the travel and tourism industry to discuss opportunities and challenges in this sector.

Despite strong bilateral relations and the significant number of visitors traveling between the two countries, there is still great growth potential, particularly for incoming tourism from the U.S. to India. Suman Billa, Deputy Secretary of Tourism for the Indian government, noted that while the U.S. visa is valid for ten years, the application process remains cumbersome. He emphasized that simplifying visa procedures and increasing direct flight capacity could significantly improve travel between the two nations.

Jonathan M. Heimer, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy, highlighted that visa processing has sped up, with over 1.1 million visas issued last year, setting a record. However, industry stakeholders continue to push for further improvements to meet the growing demand for travel.

Harvinder Singh, Director of India and the Middle East for United Airlines, noted that the three key segments of air travel—business, students, and leisure—are gaining momentum post-COVID. Meanwhile, Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and CEO of MakeMyTrip Limited, suggested introducing short-term visas for tourists, which would facilitate more travel between the two countries.

Summit experts also discussed the challenges of promoting the "Incredible India" brand in foreign markets, including the U.S., and called for an integrated marketing and promotion campaign by the Ministry of Tourism.

It is important to note that the U.S. Travel Association has expressed serious concerns about excessive wait times for visitor visas in the U.S., especially for key countries like India. According to the organization, these wait times, which can exceed 400 days in major markets, are a significant obstacle to the global competitiveness of the U.S. and are negatively impacting international tourism. Although visa processing has improved, the U.S. Travel Association insists that more actions are needed to support the growing demand for travel, as the slow issuance of visas contributes to a significant economic loss, estimated in billions of dollars due to the reduction in the number of international visitors.