Travel & Tourism Startup Grants and Funding Programs in India September 2026

As of September 2026, six active programs offer funding, incubation support, and recognition for Travel & Tourism startups across India. These opportunities include government-backed grants, state-specific incentives, and awards. The Indian Travel & Tourism sector benefits from a structured funding landscape primarily driven by state and central government schemes, alongside institutional incubation programs and competitive awards designed to foster innovation and sustainable growth.

Active Travel & Tourism Grants and Programs

State Tourism Policy Incentives (Government of India)

The State Tourism Policy Incentives are primarily state-driven initiatives. These programs offer various benefits to encourage investment and development within the hospitality and tourism sectors across different states in India.

Typical state-level benefits include capital subsidies (15%–30% of project cost), interest subvention on term loans (2%–5%), stamp-duty exemption, electricity-duty concession, GST-linked incentives, and land allotment at concessional rates. These incentives support hotels, resorts, homestays, wellness centres, adventure tourism facilities, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) facilities.

Marketing Development Assistance Scheme (Ministry of Tourism)

The Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme, launched by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, operates within the broader Overseas Promotion & Publicity (OPP) framework. This initiative provides financial support to approved tourism service providers, as well as State Government and Union Territory tourism administrations.

The scheme aims to enhance India's presence on the global tourism map. It incentivizes stakeholders to promote and market India as a premier destination in key international markets, thereby elevating the visibility of the "Incredible India" brand and increasing foreign tourist arrivals. Financial assistance of up to ₹3,50,000 is available for eligible activities.

Chief Minister’s Startup/innovation Projects/new Industries (Startup Himachal)

The Chief Minister’s Startup/Innovation Projects/New Industries Scheme, formulated by the Government of Himachal Pradesh, aims to foster entrepreneurship and create self-employment opportunities. The program supports startups and innovative projects within the state, transforming educated youth into job creators and contributing to industrial development.

This scheme offers a range of incentives to enhance the success rate of entrepreneurial ventures across Himachal Pradesh. Beyond direct support, it establishes Incubation Centers within reputable host institutions throughout the state. These centers focus on capacity building and fostering an environment conducive to startup growth.

Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Interventions: Reimbursement of GST Amount for Promoting Destination Wedding- DNH&DD (Department of Industries, UT Administration of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)

The "Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP)" scheme is a Government of India initiative, backed by the World Bank, to enhance MSME capabilities. Within RAMP, "Intervention 4: Reimbursement of GST amount for promoting destination wedding" is specific to the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.

This targeted intervention, administered by the Department of Industries, aims to invigorate the tourism sector in DNH&DD. It offers reimbursement of up to ₹5,00,000 for GST incurred when promoting destination weddings. The program seeks to enhance the Union Territory's appeal as a wedding destination.

Grants Provisioned under Uttarakhand Tourism Policy, 2023 (Department of Tourism, Government of Uttarakhand)

The Grants Provisioned under Uttarakhand Tourism Policy, 2023 is a key initiative by the Department of Tourism, Government of Uttarakhand. It aims to promote sustainable tourism development across the state.

The policy encourages both private and institutional investment in the tourism sector by providing a suite of financial incentives and subsidies. It seeks to foster economic growth, create employment, and enhance the overall tourism infrastructure and experience in Uttarakhand. The policy outlines various grant categories and incentive structures tailored to different tourism projects, including housing developments and unique tourism products and services, offering substantial capital subsidies.

HP Tourism Excellence Awards (Startup Himachal)

The HP Tourism Excellence Awards are annual awards established under the Tourism Policy 2019 by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. These awards recognize outstanding contributions within the state's tourism sector.

The program encourages innovation, quality, and sustainable practices among entrepreneurs, startups, and established tourism assets in Himachal Pradesh. It provides a platform for visibility and acknowledgement, promoting best practices across various categories. The awards honor those demonstrating exceptional performance, pioneering initiatives, and dedicated efforts in enhancing the tourism experience and infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh. Prizes of up to ₹1,00,000 are awarded.

Before Applying

When considering these programs, applicants must note specific eligibility constraints. Programs like the Chief Minister’s Startup/innovation Projects/new Industries, RAMP GST Reimbursement, Uttarakhand Tourism Policy, and HP Tourism Excellence Awards are geographically restricted to Himachal Pradesh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Uttarakhand, respectively. The Marketing Development Assistance Scheme is specifically for approved tourism service providers.

All listed programs maintain a rolling application intake, allowing continuous submissions rather than fixed cohort deadlines. The Marketing Development Assistance Scheme operates under the broader Overseas Promotion & Publicity framework, while the Chief Minister’s Startup scheme for Himachal Pradesh leverages incubation centers for support. State Tourism Policy Incentives and the Uttarakhand Tourism Policy offer various capital subsidies based on project type and investment.