About Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI):
- It is published biennially by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
- It has evolved from the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), published biennially from 2007 to 2019 by the WEF.
- Relaunched in 2022 in its current form, it reflects a broader focus on sustainable and resilient development, beyond competitiveness alone.
- TTDI 2026 Highlights:
- It was published by WEF in collaboration with Zurich Insurance Group.
- It ranked 110 economies on the factors and conditions that support the development of travel and tourism.
- Being high on the TTDI does not necessarily mean a country receives the most tourists.
- The index is designed to measure how well economies are positioned to support sustainable and resilient tourism development.
- Japan moved up two places to take the top spot in the 2026 ranking. It was followed by the US, Spain, Australia, and France. And, Germany, the UK, China, Switzerland, and Italy comprised the top 10.
- India Rankings:
- India is ranked 31st, moving up from 39th place in 2024, helped by its low travel costs, cultural resources, and natural attractions.
- India also ranks among the top 10 economies for the number of World Heritage cultural sites, along with China and Mexico.
- The report also pointed to some challenges for India. Workforce skills, environmental sustainability, and tourism infrastructure remain areas that need improvement.
- Tourism conditions improve worldwide:
- Tourism conditions improved across most economies between 2024 and 2026.
- ● International tourist arrivals reached 1.5 billion in 2025, with arrivals 4.4% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
- 101 of the 110 economies covered by the index improved their scores during the period.
- The average score rose 2.1%, the fastest growth since 2019.
- China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Türkiye, Mexico, and Brazil, the 10 largest non-high-income travel and tourism economies account for more than 28% of global direct travel and tourism GDP, with their share projected to rise to 35% by 2035.
