India Jumps Position in WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index
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India has climbed to the 39th position in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) ‘Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024’, reflecting an improvement in travel post-pandemic. The United States leads the rankings, with India being the top performer in South Asia and among lower-middle-income nations. This is a significant rise from the country’s 54th position in 2021, although changes in index criteria prevent direct comparison with 2022 and 2023.
India demonstrates high price competitiveness, ranked 18th, and has ground & port infrastructure, ranked 25th, and air transport, ranked 26th. The country’s natural and cultural resources also contribute to its appeal, securing the top 10 rankings in these categories. Despite a slight decline in overall performance compared to 2019, the country maintains strong sustainability in travel and tourism demand, particularly due to sustainable long stays among inbound visitors.
Global inflation and supply-side trends have impacted the India’s price competitiveness and the recovery of air transport and tourist services. Nevertheless, the country’s robust resources and infrastructure continue to underpin its tourism development. The WEF report forecasts that international tourist arrivals and the travel sector’s contribution to global gross domestic product (GDP) are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels this year, driven by lifted travel restrictions and strong pent-up demand.