Jaipur BRICS tourism meet discusses sustainability and AI

Cooperation in sustainable and responsible tourism, skill development, artificial intelligence and seamless travel among BRICS countries were among the key issues discussed at the second BRICS 2026 Tourism Working Group meeting held here on Wednesday.

The meeting was hosted by the Union Ministry of Tourism under India’s BRICS Chairship and chaired by Tourism Secretary Bhuvnesh Kumar. Delegates from BRICS member states attended the meeting, according to an official statement.

The discussions focused on four priorities identified by India: Artificial Intelligence and Tourism, Sustainability and Responsible Tourism, Tourism Skilling and Capacity Building, and Tourism Exchanges and Seamless Travel Facilitation.

The meeting was held under the overarching theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.

The working group discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the responsible use of emerging technologies, sustainable and community-centred tourism, human capital development, tourism exchanges and improved connectivity among member states.

Kumar said the first Tourism Working Group meeting, held virtually on May 25, and subsequent consultations had helped make progress on India’s BRICS tourism agenda.

He said India’s Chairship had sought to strengthen cooperation in sustainability, skilling, seamless travel and smart tourism.

The outcome of the deliberations will provide a basis for the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for August 21, he said.

The working group also recognised tourism as an important driver of economic growth, employment, sustainable development and people-to-people exchanges amid technological changes and evolving traveller expectations.

As part of the programme, BRICS delegates will visit Jaipur’s Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Amer Palace on Thursday to experience Rajasthan’s cultural and architectural heritage, the statement said.