Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2024

World Economic Forum released its Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2024.

About Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI), 2024:

• TTDI measures factors and policies that support the sustainable and resilient development of travel and tourism.
• This is the second edition, having evolved from the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), which started in 2007.
• The 2024 index analyzed the travel and tourism sectors of 119 countries.

Key highlights of the Index:

• In 2024, India’s rank improved to 39th from 54th in 2021.
• It is ranked highest in South Asia and among the lower-middle-income economies.
• Top-ranked countriesin 2024:
  • United States
  • Spain
  • Japan
  • France
  • Australia
  • Germany
  • the UK
  • China
  • Italy
  • Switzerland
• Due to modifications in index parameters, direct comparisons with previous years are limited.
• The global travel and tourism sector is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024, driven by easing COVID-19 restrictions and strong demand.
• High-income economies in Europe and the Asia-Pacific continue to lead the index, benefiting from favourable business environments, dynamic labour markets, open travel policies, and well-developed infrastructure and attractions.
• The Middle East displayed the highest recovery rates in international tourist arrivals, 20% above the 2019 level.
• Europe, Africa, and the Americas showed a strong recovery of around 90% in 2023.

Key Strengths and Resource Pillars of India:

• Price Competitiveness: Ranked 18th; however, price competitiveness is declining due to global inflationary trends.
• Air Transport Infrastructure: Ranked 26th, with infrastructure recovery still below 2019 levels.
• Ground/Port Infrastructure: India stands at 25th.
• Natural Resources: Strong at 6th position, contributing significantly to travel appeal.
• Cultural Resources and Non-Leisure Resources: Both ranked 9th. India is one of only three countries to score in the top 10 for all these resource pillars.
• Sustainability in Travel Demand: Despite a decline from 2019, India scores well due to more sustainable long stays among inbound visitors.

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