As Union Budget 2026 bets big on travel, culture and concerts: Orange can be the new gold

International travel to get cheaperThe Budget reinforces travel and tourism as long-term drivers of jobs, regional development and inclusive growth, and sets the right foundation for India’s inbound and outbound travel story in the years ahead – Manjari Singhal, chief growth and business officer, CleartripWhile the establishment of five regional medical tourism hubs positions India as a leading destination for integrated hospitality and healthcare. High-speed rail corridors, city economic regions and the expansion of nature-based and experiential tourism—from eco-trails and mountain circuits to wildlife and heritage experiences—will enhance connectivity and diversify offerings Vishal Suri – managing director & – CEO, SOTC Travel LimitedThe new Buddhist circuits announced in the FY27 Union Budget will significantly strengthen the development of tourism in the North East, across the states of Sikkim, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Tripura, further enhancing connectivity and infrastructure in the region. It is encouraging to see the government continuing to invest in spiritual tourism capacity creation, an area where we’ve consistently seen massive demand and long-term potential Rajesh Magow, chair, FICCI Tourism committee and co-founder & group CEO, MakeMyTripNorth East emerges as a breakout travel regionThe North East has emerged as The North East has emerged as one of India’s fastest-growing one of India’s fastest-growing travel stories. travel stories. Overall hotel Overall hotel bookings up bookings up 180% in 2025 180% in 2025CITIES SHOWING BREAKOUT GROWTH:■ Dibrugarh: nearly Dibrugarh: nearly 12x 12x growth growth YoY YoY■ Imphal: nea Imphal: nea rly rly 12x 12x growth YoY growth YoY■ Silchar: nearly Silchar: nearly 12x 12x growth YoY growth YoY (Source: Cleartrip) (Source: Cleartrip)What is Orange Economy?The Orange Economy, also known as the creative economy, refers to sectors driven by intellectual property, artistic expression and cultural heritage, rather than traditional manufacturing. It includes industries such as gaming, film, animation, design, music and live entertainment, which leverage creativity and innovation to generate economic value and employment. Concerts enter India’s economic playbookThe Union Budget’s focus on the orange economy recognises creativity and live entertainment as powerful engines of India’s growing soft power. As live experiences continue to shape cultural influence over the last few years, this push will further accelerate the sector’s growth. Coupled with the focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, it enables high-quality live events to reach deeper into India, a prime area of focus for us as we continue to democratise access to culture and entertainment beyond metros – Shoven Shah, founder & CEO, TribeVibe EntertainmentThe concert economy has finally been recognised in the way it The concert economy has finally been recognised in the way it deserves, including how the government plans to support and deserves, including how the government plans to support and shape it. There is now a clear understanding that concerts don’t shape it. There is now a clear understanding that concerts don’t just impact the live events ecosystem – they actively drive tourism, just impact the live events ecosystem – they actively drive tourism, hospitality, and the hotel industry. From an industry point of view, hospitality, and the hotel industry. From an industry point of view, this recognition gives us confidence this recognition gives us confidence – Deepak Chaudhary, Co-Founder, EVA Live – Deepak Chaudhary, Co-Founder, EVA LiveThe inclusion of live entertainment within the Orange Economy in The inclusion of live entertainment within the Orange Economy in this year’s Union Budget is a significant acknowledgement of the this year’s Union Budget is a significant acknowledgement of the sector’s growing economic and cultural relevance. The growing sector’s growing economic and cultural relevance. The growing recognition of the ‘concert economy’, underscored by landmark recognition of the ‘concert economy’, underscored by landmark events such as Coldplay’s Ahmedabad concerts generating an events such as Coldplay’s Ahmedabad concerts generating an estimated ₹641 crore in economic impact, has firmly placed live estimated ₹641 crore in economic impact, has firmly placed live entertainment on the national agenda. India’s live entertainment entertainment on the national agenda. India’s live entertainment ecosystem is expanding rapidly, across formats, scale and ecosystem is expanding rapidly, across formats, scale and geographies, with demand now extending well beyond metros geographies, with demand now extending well beyond metros into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities – Naman Pugalia, Chief Business – Naman Pugalia, Chief Business Officer Live Events, BookMyShow Officer Live Events, BookMyShow