Understanding the World Travel, Tourism Competitiveness Index

The World Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index is published by the World Economic Forum (WEF). It assesses the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable development of the Travel and Tourism (T&T) sector, which in turn contributes to the development and competitiveness of a country.

The index is based on several pillars that evaluate different aspects relevant to travel and tourism. These pillars typically include areas such as:

• Enabling Environment (e.g., business environment, safety and security, health and hygiene)
• Travel and Tourism Policy and Enabling Conditions (e.g., tourism prioritization, international openness, price competitiveness)
• Infrastructure (e.g., air transport, ground and port, tourist service infrastructure)
• Natural and Cultural Resources (e.g., natural resources, cultural resources)

Countries are ranked based on their performance across these various pillars.

India's Ranking in the WEF World Travel, Tourism Competitiveness Index 2019

India has been participating in the World Economic Forum’s World Travel, Tourism Competitiveness Index and its performance is closely watched as the travel and tourism sector is a significant contributor to India’s economy and employment.

For the year 2019, the World Economic Forum released its report covering the ranking of countries based on their competitiveness in the travel and tourism sector.

According to the World Economic Forum’s World Travel, Tourism Competitiveness Index report for 2019, India achieved a specific ranking among the indexed countries.

The ranking of India in the World Economic Forum’s World Travel, Tourism Competitiveness Index for the year 2019 was 34.

This ranking represented an improvement compared to previous editions of the index, highlighting positive developments in India's travel and tourism ecosystem.

Analysing India's Performance in the 2019 Index

India's jump to the 34th position in 2019 from 40th in 2017 was significant. This improvement was often attributed to various factors:

• Enhanced natural and cultural resources (ranked 8th globally)
• Price competitiveness (ranked 11th)
• Air transport infrastructure improvements
• Increased international openness (facilitating visas, etc.)
• Government prioritization of the tourism sector

While there were areas of strength, the report also typically highlights areas needing improvement for continued growth and sustainability in the travel and tourism sector.

Revision Table: India's WEF Travel, Tourism Ranking

Additional Information: Importance of Travel and Tourism Index

The World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index serves as a valuable benchmark for countries to understand their position relative to global peers. It helps policymakers identify strengths to leverage and weaknesses to address.

Key benefits of tracking this index include:

• Identifying factors hindering or promoting tourism growth.
• Informing policy decisions related to infrastructure investment, visa regulations, safety measures, and environmental sustainability.
• Attracting investment by showcasing a country's potential in the tourism sector.
• Promoting sustainable tourism practices by evaluating environmental and socio-economic impacts.

Monitoring rankings and the underlying performance indicators allows countries like India to strategise effectively for the future development of their travel and tourism industry.