India’s new leap on the world tourism map

India’s 31st Rank in TTDI 2026 Shows that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of ‘Development as well as Heritage’ Is Now Visible on the Ground

Tourism in a country does not grow merely because it has beautiful mountains, ancient temples or beaches. A tourist needs good roads and flights to reach a destination. There should be hotels or homestays for accommodation. Correct information, safety, cleanliness and good behaviour are also essential. Above all, the tourist needs an experience that they can remember for a lifetime. The World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index assesses these very aspects. Its 2026 report shows that India has taken strong steps in this direction.

India has moved from 65th position in the world in 2014 to 39th in 2024 and has now moved further ahead to rank 31st among 160 economies. Our overall score is 4.42, which is 4.3 per cent higher than in 2024. Compared to the 2019 score of 4.36, recalculated using the new methodology, this is also an increase of 1.4 per cent. India ranks first among South Asian and lower-middle-income countries. This is not merely an improvement in ranking. It is global recognition of the impact of the tourism policy being pursued on the principle of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of “Development as well as Heritage”.

To understand this year’s ranking, one point needs to be understood. The 2019 index had four major areas and 90 indicators. In 2026, countries have been assessed on 17 pillars and 102 indicators. Indicators based on people’s perceptions have declined from 33 to 18. This means that the assessment is now based more heavily on actual data. The number of countries has also decreased from 140 to 110, so it would not be appropriate to directly compare the old and new rankings. However, the increase in the score on a comparable basis clearly establishes India’s progress.

India is among the top ten countries in the world in 13 indicators. India ranks first in the average length of stay of foreign tourists and in the timely submission of tourism data. It may be noted that the average stay of foreign tourists in India is approximately 17-18 days, which is more than twice the average in other major tourism countries. India ranks fourth in airport connectivity and sixth in price competitiveness, hotel rates, purchasing power and tourism jobs with good incomes. India ranks tenth in road density.

The new highways built across the country, improved rail services, new airports and regional flights are now also giving a boost to tourism. Under the UDAN scheme, 687 routes are connecting 95 airports.

India’s greatest strength is its diversity. In terms of travel resources, we rank fourth in the world. We rank seventh in natural resources, ninth in cultural resources, and eighth in business, education and other non-leisure travel resources. India ranks third in large sports stadiums and top universities, and fifth among global cities. This means that India is not merely a country for spending holidays. It is also emerging as a major hub for travel related to conferences, sports, education, weddings, spirituality, health and business.

Prime Minister Modi’s thinking is clear: heritage has to be preserved as well as connected with the prosperity of local people. With this thinking, the Ministry of Tourism has focused not merely on creating tourist attractions but on the development of entire destinations. Under Swadesh Darshan, 76 projects worth more than Rs 5,295 crore have been sanctioned across tourism circuits based on 15 themes, of which 75 have been completed. Under Swadesh Darshan 2.0, 53 projects worth more than Rs 2,207 crore are progressing. The 54 projects under the PRASAD scheme are improving cleanliness, safety, facilities and employment at pilgrimage sites.

The impact of these efforts is visible in the report. India’s ranking in the indicator related to ensuring that tourist arrivals are not limited to just a few months has improved from 80 to 46. The availability of hotel rooms in proportion to the population has improved from 117th to 84th position. The ranking for the use of digital tourism services has improved from 106th to 91st, government tourism expenditure from 113th to 101st, and the ranking related to the economic impact of tourism from 41st to 31st. There has also been improvement in small rental accommodation. With the Tourism Digital Stack announced recently on World Tourism Day becoming operational, the ranking of digital tourism services in the coming years is bound to improve, while the increasing number of hotel rooms due to the facilities and concessions being provided by the Centre and State Governments for investment in tourism will inevitably bring improvements in indicators measuring room availability in proportion to the population in the coming years. This is directly benefiting new cities, villages, homestays and local businesses.

Digital facilities have accelerated this transformation. E-visas are now available to citizens of 172 countries. Around 78 per cent of visas are issued electronically, and approximately 95 per cent of e-visa applications are processed within 72 hours. The Incredible India digital platform, NIDHI Plus and the multilingual tourist helpline have made access to information and services easier. Technology is now becoming a means of connecting small hotels, guides, tour operators and service providers with larger markets, along with providing convenience to tourists.

This growth in tourism is also visible in the economy and employment. Tourism contributes 5.22 per cent to the national Gross Domestic Product. In 2023-24, the sector supported 8.46 crore jobs. In 2025, domestic tourist trips reached 428.55 crore, foreign tourist trips reached 2.53 crore, and foreign exchange earnings from tourism reached Rs 2,76,831 crore.  Behind these figures are millions of families of guides, taxi drivers, artisans, weavers, folk artists, dhaaba owners, small hotel owners and homestay operators. Therefore, tourism development directly takes its benefits to the common citizen.

Yet this achievement cannot be a reason for complacency. We have to work further on good hotels, trained guides, convenient last-mile connectivity and better destination management. Artificial intelligence and digital technology have to be used to make journeys simpler and more personalised. Lesser-known destinations also need to be developed in such a way that tourists can easily discover them, book them and have a safe experience there.

The 31st rank in TTDI is not the destination; it is evidence that we are moving in the right direction. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, tourism is becoming a major force for connecting India’s vibrant civilisation with the world and creating employment across every region.

If tourism is to remain successful over the long term, nature and local communities must be taken care of. This is why India’s seventh rank in tourism sustainability holds special significance. Our objective is not merely to increase the number of tourists. We want tourists to stay longer, purchase local products, explore new places nearby and return with a pleasant experience

The author is Union Minister for Culture & Tourism, Government of India; Views presented are personal.