Representative ImageTravel today is evolving rapidly, and destinations are moving beyond postcard icons toward more layered, immersive experiences. Greece, for instance, is increasingly being seen as much more than Santorini, while countries like Sri Lanka and India are leveraging deep civilisational ties to shape new travel narratives. While Egypt is inviting travellers to experience the country through its hospitality, friendship and deeper cultural spirit. How are destinations reimagining cultural and experiential tourism for the next generation of travellers?
Egypt Positions Tourism as a Civilisational and Human-Centric Experience
Kamel Zayed Kamel Galal, Ambassador of Egypt to India, positioned tourism not merely as an economic driver but as a people-centric bridge rooted in history, culture and shared values. Stressing that tourism is a message of tolerance and acceptance, he noted that Egypt’s engagement with Indian travellers is anchored in a civilisational relationship dating back over 4,700 years. Rather than promoting Egypt simply as a destination to visit, he emphasised the idea of “live Egypt” — inviting travellers to experience the country through its hospitality, friendship and deeper cultural spirit. He also challenged the perception of Egypt as solely an ancient civilisation, highlighting that alongside its heritage, Egypt is building a “new civilisation” through major investments in infrastructure and hospitality. With Indian brands such as the Taj entering the Egyptian market and more expected to follow, he underscored that Egypt is positioning itself not only as a heritage destination but as a modern tourism ecosystem shaped by both ancient legacy and contemporary ambition.
Greece Broadens Its Tourism Story Beyond the Islands
Aliki Koutsomitopoulou, Ambassador of Greece to India: Greece has always been a highly attractive tourism destination, welcoming a record 38 million visitors last year, but our focus today is on constantly redefining what Greece offers. Our strategy is centred around 365-day tourism, moving beyond the traditional perception of Greece as a summer and island destination.
While travellers often first associate Greece with Santorini and the islands, we are showcasing many other dimensions — winter tourism, golf tourism, mountain escapes and a wider experiential offering. Younger travellers, especially, are increasingly seeking curated and personalised journeys rather than standard itineraries, and that is where experiential tourism becomes central.
The idea is to offer unique, tailor-made experiences that resonate with new audiences while also deepening Greece’s appeal for markets like India, where there is growing interest in immersive and meaningful travel.
Sri Lanka Leverages Civilisational Ties and Compact Diversity
Pradeepa Mahishini Colonne, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India: Sri Lanka, India, Greece and Egypt all belong to a shared civilisational continuum, and that heritage is a powerful tourism narrative. In the case of Sri Lanka and India, we don’t just share proximity — we share a civilisation.
Whether it is the connection between Anuradhapura and Bodhgaya, or the Ramayana trail stretching across our island, these are stories that continue to resonate deeply with travellers. The Ramayana route alone links north to south Sri Lanka, from heritage sites to the hill country and the Sita temple, offering a powerful spiritual and cultural journey.
At the same time, younger travellers today are looking for diversity of experiences, and Sri Lanka offers that in a very compact way. Though geographically small, we have eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient capitals, beaches, wildlife reserves and extraordinary biodiversity. Within 48 hours, a traveller can move from centuries-old heritage to safari experiences and marine encounters, including the world’s largest gathering of blue whales off Trincomalee.
That combination of storytelling, heritage and experiential diversity is what makes Sri Lanka unique, and increasingly relevant for the modern traveller.
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Transformational Travel Is Defining the Next Generation
Jyoti Mayal, CEO, RedHat Communications and Chairperson, Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC): One of the biggest shifts we are seeing, especially among Gen Z and millennials, is that travellers are no longer looking for a trip — they are looking for transformation. That is a profound shift and one India must respond to. When travellers come to India, they want authentic engagement with communities. They want to cook with local families, engage with artisans, understand traditions and experience local life. This is where community-led tourism has immense potential.
I believe tourism growth will increasingly move beyond metro cities into tier-two and tier-three destinations, where these authentic experiences are stronger. But for India to truly leverage this, we need to improve ease of travel significantly — from visas and connectivity to last-mile access and seamless travel packaging.
Young travellers today expect intuitive, easy-to-navigate experiences. They are digital nomads; they want travel to be seamless and digitally enabled, while still deeply personal. India has the richness, but we need to package and present it in a way that feels accessible, authentic and easy to experience.
Ease of Access and Connectivity Remain Fundamental
A key point raised during the discussion was that while experiential and community-driven tourism is rising, enabling infrastructure remains equally critical. Ease of access — whether through streamlined visas, direct air connectivity or seamless ground experiences — is now fundamental to destination competitiveness.
As was highlighted, countries represented on the panel are strengthening this ecosystem. From expanding e-visa access to improving direct connectivity, these measures are helping translate interest into arrivals.
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Shared Heritage, New stories
What emerged strongly from the discussion was that the future of tourism is increasingly being shaped by destinations that can combine heritage with contemporary relevance.
For Greece, that means broadening its tourism identity beyond iconic islands into year-round, experiential offerings. For Sri Lanka, it means using civilisational storytelling and compact diversity as a differentiator. For India, it means leveraging community, spirituality and transformative travel while making the visitor journey easier and more seamless.
Across the conversation, one theme stood out: modern travellers are not simply seeking destinations, they are seeking stories, connection and meaning.
And for countries with deep cultural roots, that presents not just an opportunity, but a new tourism chronicle waiting to be shaped.
