India Climbs to 39th in Global Tourism Index 2024

India moved up to the 39th spot on the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2024, as the number of tourists around the world returned to levels seen before the pandemic. First on the list was the United States. The next five countries in order were Spain, Japan, France, and Australia.

India’s Ranking and Comparative Analysis

According to the current WEF report, India is now the best lower-middle-income economy in South Asia and the 54th-best economy in the world in 2021. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that changes to the index’s parameters have made it harder to directly compare it to past years.

Key Strengths and Resource Pillars

The index, developed in collaboration with the University of Surrey, highlights India’s strengths in several key areas:

• Price Competitiveness: India is ranked 18th, making it highly affordable for travelers.
• Air Transport Infrastructure: Positioned at 26th, indicating robust air transportation facilities.
• Ground/Port Infrastructure: Ranked 25th, showcasing strong ground and port transportation systems.
• Natural Resources: India holds a strong 6th position, emphasizing its rich natural attractions.
• Cultural Resources: Ranked 9th, highlighting India’s vast cultural heritage.
• Non-Leisure Resources: Also ranked 9th, underlining its diverse attractions.

Economic Impact and Recovery Rates

According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), foreign tourist arrivals and the tourism sector’s contribution to global GDP will fully return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024. This will happen because COVID-19 travel restrictions will no longer apply and there will be a lot of pent-up demand. The Middle East has had the best recovery rates, 20% higher than in 2019. Europe, Africa, and the Americas are not far behind, with recovery rates of about 90% in 2023.

More About World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index

The Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) from the World Economic Forum looks at the policies and factors that help the travel and tourism industry grow in different countries in a way that is viable. The index, which replaced the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report, looks at things like the business environment, safety and security, health and hygiene, human resources, and the long-term health of the climate. Japan was ranked first in 2021, making it the best country in Asia. Because of how COVID-19 affected tourism around the world, the score stresses how important it is to be resilient and come up with new ideas. Notably, the approach includes new indicators that show how ready travel and tourism are for the future. This encourages a change to more sustainable and welcoming practices.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2024

Category: Reports & Indexes Current Affairs