India Has Climbed to 31st in the World's Top Travel & Tourism Rankings

India has climbed nine places to 31st out of 110 economies in the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2026, up from 39th out of 119 economies when the index was last published in 2024. The TTDI, published by the WEF, scores countries on the factors that shape a tourism sector's ability to develop sustainably, including infrastructure, natural and cultural resources, business environment and traveller demand.

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What lifted India's ranking

The WEF's assessment credited India's rise to a cost-competitive travel environment, a large base of natural attractions and one of the world's largest collections of cultural heritage sites, placing the country among the top ten economies globally by number of UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites, alongside China and Mexico. Sites such as Odisha's 13th-century Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are among the assets the index's cultural-resources scoring draws on.

Where the report says India still lags

The same WEF assessment flagged workforce skills, environmental sustainability and tourism infrastructure as areas where India's score trails the leaders, factors it said could limit the sector's ability to absorb rising visitor demand if left unaddressed. Japan topped the overall 2026 ranking, followed by the United States, Spain, Australia and France.

A broader global improvement

The 2026 edition covers 110 economies, and the WEF noted that 101 of them recorded higher scores than in 2024, with the global average score up 2.1 percent, the fastest rate of improvement since 2019. That context suggests India's climb reflects both its own gains and a general post-pandemic recovery across the sector rather than an isolated jump.

What it means for travellers

The ranking is a policy and investment benchmark rather than a change that affects bookings or entry rules directly, but a higher TTDI score is often cited by tourism bodies when arguing for infrastructure spending, so it may feed into future airport, rail and heritage-site investment decisions. This is based on the WEF's 2026 Travel & Tourism Development Index as reported around 26 September 2026; readers should confirm current details on the World Economic Forum's official website, since index methodology and figures can be revised.

Traveller tips

• The TTDI is a policy benchmark, not a travel advisory; it does not affect visa rules, entry requirements or airfares directly.
• India's cited strengths, cultural heritage sites and natural attractions among them, are a reasonable guide to where the country's tourism appeal is strongest.
• Confirm current rankings and methodology on the World Economic Forum's official website, as index data can be updated or revised.
• Infrastructure gaps flagged in the report can still mean longer transit times or inconsistent facilities at some Indian destinations; build buffer time into itineraries accordingly.