India’s travel and tourism ranking rises to 39 on the WEF Index

India’s Travel & Tourism Sector Rises in Global Rankings

India’s rank on the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024 has seen a significant improvement, climbing to 39th place from its previous position of 54 in 2021. This rise comes as international tourist arrivals are expected to reach pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, according to the World Economic Forum.

The WEF highlights India as having the largest Travel & Tourism sector in South Asia and being the top lower-middle-income economy on the Travel & Tourism Development Index. India’s strong Natural, Cultural, and Non-Leisure Resources are key drivers of travel, with the country being one of only three to score in the top 10 for all resource pillars.

The index, developed in collaboration with the University of Surrey, also points out that India is highly price-competitive and has competitive Air Transport and Ground and Port infrastructure. The report emphasizes that the Europe and Asia-Pacific regions, along with high-income economies, continue to offer the most favorable conditions for Travel & Tourism development.

The top 10 economies in the 2024 TTDI edition include the United States, Spain, Japan, France, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Italy, and Switzerland. China, ranked 8th, and neighboring Pakistan, ranked 101st, are also noted for their significant tourism economies and natural, cultural, and non-leisure assets.

Overall, the report underscores the need for developing economies to continue improving their Travel & Tourism enabling conditions, with a focus on areas such as workforce resilience and equality. The surge in ICT Readiness pillar scores reflects the increasing digitalization of T&T services, while pandemic-era policies have made it easier for operators in the sector to do business.