World Economic Forum’s 2026 Travel & Tourism Development Index

Japan has topped the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI), followed by the United States, Spain, Australia and France. India moved up nine places to 31st, supported by its low travel costs, cultural resources and natural attractions. The index, prepared with Zurich Insurance Group, ranks 110 economies based on the conditions that support travel and tourism.

Why in the News?

The latest edition of the index provides a comparative picture of how economies are developing the conditions needed for travel and tourism. It also looks at how these conditions have changed since the previous edition.

• Japan secured the top position in the 2026 Travel & Tourism Development Index.
• India improved by nine places to rank 31st.
• Better tourism infrastructure, cultural assets, and business travel resources supported India's improvement.
• India ranks among the top 10 economies for the number of World Heritage cultural sites, alongside China and Mexico.
• Workforce skills, environmental sustainability and tourism infrastructure remain areas that need improvement.

India’s Performance

India’s position in the index reflects the changing role of tourism in the country’s economy. The country has a large domestic and international tourism base, along with a wide range of historical, cultural and natural destinations.

• India’s ranking improved by 9 places in the 2026 index.
• The improvement was supported by:
  • Tourism infrastructure
  • Cultural assets
  • Business travel resources
  • Low travel costs
  • Natural attractions
• The World Economic Forum (WEF) highlighted rapid improvements in tourism infrastructure, cultural assets, and business travel resources as important factors behind India’s rise.
• However, India still faces challenges related to workforce skills, environmental sustainability and tourism infrastructure.

Global Ranking

The index covers 110 economies and compares them on different conditions that shape the travel and tourism environment. The ranking also reflects changes in the tourism sector since the previous assessment.

• Japan moved up two places to take the top position.
• The United States, Spain, Australia and France completed the top five.

Tourism Conditions Improve Worldwide

The 2026 edition indicates that the global tourism environment has continued to recover and develop after the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes show how different economies are adapting to growing travel demand.

• Tourism conditions improved across most economies between 2024 and 2026.
• 101 out of 110 economies improved their scores during this period.
• The average score increased by 2.1%, the fastest growth since 2019.
• Improvements were recorded in:
  • Cultural resources
  • Tourism infrastructure and services
  • Air connectivity
  • Business travel

According to the WEF, the enabling conditions for travel and tourism are at their strongest since the pandemic, with 92% of economies improving since 2024.

Challenges for Global Tourism

The growth of international and domestic tourism is also creating pressure on destinations. The sector needs a balance between increasing demand and the availability of workers, infrastructure, investment, and environmental resources.

Despite overall improvement, the tourism sector continues to face several challenges:

• Rising travel costs: Travel became less affordable in three out of four economies between 2024 and 2026.
• Capacity pressures: Tourism investment has not kept pace with rising demand.
• Labour shortages: Shortages of workers remain a challenge.
• Infrastructure gaps: Growing tourism demand requires greater investment in infrastructure.
• Sustainability: Tourism development needs greater attention to environmental sustainability.

The WEF emphasised the need for greater investment in people, infrastructure and public-private collaboration so that tourism can generate long-term benefits for communities, businesses and destinations.

About Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI)

The TTDI is part of WEF’s work on measuring the conditions that support the travel and tourism sector. It replaced the earlier competitiveness-focused index with a broader approach that also considers sustainable and resilient tourism development.

• The Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) is published biennially by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
• It evolved from the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI).
• The TTCI was published biennially from 2007 to 2019.
• The TTDI was relaunched in 2022 in its current form.
• It has a broader focus on sustainable and resilient development, beyond competitiveness alone.

Conclusion

The 2026 Travel & Tourism Development Index shows that tourism conditions are improving across the world, with 101 of 110 economies recording better scores than in 2024. Japan ranked first, while India improved by nine places to 31st. India’s progress reflects its cultural and natural resources, tourism infrastructure and business travel potential. At the same time, challenges such as workforce skills, environmental sustainability and infrastructure gaps remain. Globally, rising travel costs, labour shortages, and pressure on tourism capacity highlight the need for continued investment. Sustainable tourism development will be important for ensuring long-term benefits for destinations, businesses and local communities.