The BRICS summit in Delhi has delivered a measurable boost to the city’s hotels, luxury taxi operators, tourism sites and retail markets, with industry associations reporting near-total hotel occupancy and higher demand from foreign delegates and accompanying visitors.
Hotels in Lutyens’ Delhi and Aerocity recorded occupancy of 95% to 100% during the summit, according to Ajay Aggarwal, president of the Delhi Hotel Federation. He said hotel revenues rose by 30% to 35% compared with the same period last year, while catering and event management companies also received additional business linked to the international gathering.
The increase was driven by the presence of heads of government, foreign representatives, business delegations and media personnel attending the summit. Although the formal event concluded on Sunday evening, popular commercial and visitor destinations, including Connaught Place, Khan Market, the Red Fort, the Prime Ministers’ Museum and craft markets, continued to see foreign visitors.
Luxury transport operators also reported a rise in demand. Satish Sehrawat, president of the Indian Tourist Transporters Association, said demand for premium vehicles, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi cars, as well as luxury tourist buses, increased by more than 40% during the summit period. Cab aggregators and private taxi operators recorded a 25% to 30% increase in daily income from airport transfers and local sightseeing trips, he said.
The effect extended beyond the summit venues. Foreign visitor traffic at the Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb and Akshardham Temple was reported to be up by as much as 50% compared with normal days. Several delegates also travelled from the Delhi-NCR region to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal, supporting inter-state tourism activity.
Retail centres including Connaught Place, Khan Market, Dilli Haat and Chandni Chowk reported stronger sales of handicrafts, traditional Indian clothing, spices and souvenirs. Brijesh Goyal, chairman of the Chamber of Trade and Industry, said foreign visitors showed strong interest in Indian handicrafts and products made in India.
The reported gains show how an international summit can distribute spending across several parts of a metropolitan economy, from accommodation and transport to heritage tourism and retail. However, the figures cited in the report come from industry representatives and cover the summit period rather than a longer-term assessment of its economic impact.
According to the report, the rise in activity has also created a favourable environment for the forthcoming festive season. The summit’s immediate economic effects will now be reflected in the final business performance reported by hotels, transport operators, tourism establishments and retail markets.
