Suman Billa Appointed as Director General, Ministry of Tourism
In a key bureaucratic reshuffle, the Government of India has appointed senior IAS officer Suman Billa as the Director General (DG) of the Ministry of Tourism. A 1996-batch officer from the Kerala cadre, Billa is currently serving as additional secretary in the same ministry.
Billa has a distinguished background in tourism and international cooperation. He served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism from 2014 to 2019, during which he played a pivotal role in shaping tourism policy. Following this, he represented India at the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in Madrid, where he worked as Director of Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Development, enhancing India’s presence on the global tourism stage.
Upon his return from the UNWTO, Billa took up key roles in Kerala, including Principal Secretary for Industries and NORKA (Non-Resident Keralites Affairs), before rejoining the central government in February 2024 as Additional Secretary.
His appointment as DG reflects the government’s intent to strengthen the tourism sector by leveraging the experience of seasoned professionals with both national and international exposure. This move was part of a wider reshuffle involving 25 officers appointed to Additional Secretary-level positions and 15 granted in-situ promotions, as outlined in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) circular.
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