2nd BRICS 2026 Tourism Working Group Meeting Held in Jaipur

The 2nd BRICS 2026 Tourism Working Group Meeting was held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 19 August 2026 under India’s BRICS Chairship. The Ministry of Tourism of the Government of India hosted the in-person meeting, and Tourism Secretary Bhuvnesh Kumar chaired the session with delegates from BRICS member states.

BRICS Tourism Working Group

The BRICS Tourism Working Group is a ministerial-level preparatory mechanism linked to the BRICS tourism agenda. BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and it conducts sectoral meetings through working groups before ministerial discussions.

India’s Tourism Theme and Priorities

The Jaipur meeting discussed India’s theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The four priority areas were Artificial Intelligence and Tourism, Sustainability and Responsible Tourism, Tourism Skilling and Capacity Building, and Tourism Exchanges and Seamless Travel Facilitation.

Artificial Intelligence in tourism covers digital tools used for travel planning, visitor services, language support, and destination management. Responsible tourism refers to tourism practices that reduce environmental pressure, support local communities, and preserve cultural heritage.

Continuity from the First Working Group Meeting

The Jaipur meeting followed the virtual 1st BRICS 2026 Tourism Working Group Meeting held on 25 May 2026. The two meetings formed part of the BRICS tourism track for 2026 and covered policy coordination before the ministerial-level meeting.

Heritage Visits in Jaipur

On 20 August 2026, international delegates visited Hawa Mahal, City Palace, and Amber Palace in Jaipur. Hawa Mahal is a 1799 monument in Jaipur, City Palace is a royal palace complex in the old city, and Amber Palace is a fort-palace complex associated with the Kachwaha rulers.

Important Facts for Exams

• BRICS originally stood for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• Tourism Working Groups are preparatory bodies that usually precede tourism ministers’ meetings.
• Jaipur is a UNESCO World Heritage City under the Historic City of Jaipur inscription.
• Amber Palace is also known as Amer Fort and is located near Jaipur in Rajasthan.

The BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting was scheduled for 21 August 2026. The Jaipur working group outcomes were set to form the policy framework for that ministerial meeting.