Towards an accessible India: strengthening inclusive ecosystems

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in collaboration with Svayam, convened a roundtable on “Towards Accessible India: Inclusive Tourism, Hospitality and Sports” on 27 March 2026 in New Delhi, marking the observance of World Accessibility Day.

The roundtable brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from government, multilateral organisations, industry, sports administration, civil society, and members of the India Business and Disability Network (IBDN). The strong cross-sector participation reflected a shared commitment to strengthening inclusive ecosystems across tourism, travel, hospitality, and sports.

With a focused emphasis on accessible tourism as a high-potential growth area for India, discussions explored how enhancing accessibility across infrastructure, transport networks, hospitality services, and digital platforms can enable greater participation, stimulate demand, and drive economic growth. The session featured a special address by representatives from the transport and tourism ecosystem, followed by a keynote by the Sports Authority of India. 

Key Insights from the discussion:

• The discussions highlighted the critical need to integrate accessibility at the planning and design stage across both public and private infrastructure. 
• Bridging the knowledge gap in accessibility across sectors 
• Deepening understanding and adoption of assistive devices and technologies 
• Enhancing visibility of information and communication for all users 
• Driving standardization through certifications and accreditations to ensure credibility 
• Integrating accessibility and inclusion modules into foundational courses (hospitality, architecture, civil engineering, and allied fields) 
• Expanding the lens of accessibility to include reduced mobility and diverse user needs 
• Addressing the data gap in disability, with a strong need for evidence-based research to inform policy, advocacy, and action 

The roundtable concluded with a collective recognition that sustained engagement—anchored in actionable recommendations and strengthened by proactive industry participation—will be critical to advancing accessibility across sectors. It underscored the need to formally recognise World Accessibility Day and to position accessibility as a central pillar of India’s development agenda and its global leadership on inclusive growth.

These deliberations represent a meaningful step towards building a more inclusive and future-ready India—where accessibility is embedded by design, shaping systems, infrastructure, and experiences from the outset, rather than being addressed as an afterthought.