India has achieved significant progress after COVID-19, according to the Travel and Tourism Development Index released by the World Economic Forum. In the ranking led by the United States, India stands at 39th place this year, up from 54th in 2021. It is noted that India has made notable advancements among the middle-income countries in South Asia. The list of 119 countries was compiled considering factors such as infrastructure and government policies that contribute to the development of the travel and tourism sector.
Spain, Japan, and France hold the second, third, and fourth positions respectively in this year’s list. They are followed by Australia (5), Germany (6), the United Kingdom (7), China (8), Italy (9), and Switzerland (10). The World Economic Forum collaborated with the University of Surrey, UK, to prepare this ranking.
Compared to the pre-COVID-19 data of 2019, India has dropped ten places to reach the current 39th position. India ranks 18th among the countries with the least expensive tourism, 26th in air transport infrastructure, and 25th in road and port infrastructure. India has also secured high ranks for its natural beauty (6th), cultural diversity (9th), and leisure activities (9th).
Economically advanced countries in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region lead this index. The Travel and Tourism Development Index is considered highly influential in the global tourism market. The report notes that contributions of tourism to international GDP are expected to return to pre-COVID-19 levels this year.