PANAJI
The Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India, has signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mastercard to strengthen India’s positioning as a global tourism destination and promote secure digital payments across the tourism ecosystem.
The Ministry said the curated experiences will first be featured on priceless.com from Goa, followed by Varanasi and select locations in Andhra Pradesh, with more destinations to be added.
Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the government is exploring ways to present India’s diverse tourism offerings in innovative and impactful formats to global audiences. As Knowledge Partner, MoT will identify travel corridors and facilitate tie-ups with State Tourism Boards, the Archaeological Survey of India and the Ministry of Culture to create immersive experiences.
Mastercard’s global marketing chief Raja Rajamannar said the company aims to showcase India’s remarkable stories and destinations while enhancing secure and seamless digital payment experiences. Gautam Aggarwal, President for India and South Asia, added that the initiative will support tourism-linked economic participation, including in remote regions.
The MoU, valid for 24 months, also seeks to boost the tourism value chain by promoting safe digital payment adoption and exploring co-branded payment products linked to Indian destinations.
