New Delhi: India has taken a big leap in the Global Travel and Tourism Development Index. According to the latest report released by the World Economic Forum (WEF), India has moved up nine places to 31st position. Cost-competitive travel environment, rich cultural resources, natural resources and better distribution of tourism demand were important factors in India's progress.
Japan tops the index. After this, America, Spain, Australia and France are included in the top five countries.
Improvement in tourism infrastructure has led to gains
According to the WEF report, India has rapidly improved tourism infrastructure, cultural resources and business travel facilities. Progress in these areas contributed significantly to India's improvement in ranking.
However, the report also mentions some challenges facing India. Prominent among these are workforce skills, environmental sustainability and quality of tourism infrastructure.
India also in top 10 among world heritage sites
China, India and Mexico are among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of the number of World Heritage cultural sites. This highlights India's rich cultural heritage as an important strength of the tourism sector.
101 out of 110 economies improved
According to the report, the Travel and Tourism Development Index score of 101 out of 110 economies of the world has improved between 2024 and 2026. The global average score increased by 2.1 percent during this period, the fastest increase since 2019.
WEF said growth in cultural resources, tourism infrastructure and services, air connectivity and business travel have driven this recovery in the global tourism sector.
Making tourism cheaper is a challenge
Ramya Krishnaswamy, head of WEF's Experience Economy and Cities Unit, said the latest Travel and Tourism Development Index shows that favorable conditions for travel and tourism are at their strongest since the pandemic. According to him, 92 percent economies have improved after 2024.
However, the report also revealed that travel became less affordable in three out of four economies between 2024 and 2026. Investment in the tourism sector could not keep pace with the increasing demand and labor shortage also remains a challenge for its further development.
According to the report, despite the increase in tourism, the benefits to local communities have decreased. More tourist arrivals does not automatically guarantee better livelihoods or better quality jobs, especially in tourist destinations where tourism is largely seasonal.
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