India Poised to Become World’s Fourth-Largest Travel and Tourism Economy by 2036: WTTC

India is on track to become the world’s fourth-largest travel and tourism economy by 2036, according to new projections from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

India, which ranked 10th globally in WTTC’s 2025 Economic Impact Research, is expected to rise into the world’s top four tourism economies over the next decade. The projected growth reflects the country’s expanding domestic travel market, rising investment, improving air connectivity, and continued development of tourism infrastructure.

According to WTTC’s latest research, India’s travel and tourism sector grew by 7.3% in 2025, significantly exceeding the global industry’s growth rate of 4.1%. The sector contributed US$263.6 billion to the Indian economy, equivalent to 6.6% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The industry also supported approximately 46.2 million jobs across a wide range of sectors, including hospitality, aviation, transportation, retail, and other tourism-related industries.

The figures highlight the growing importance of travel and tourism as a major driver of India’s economic growth. The sector is contributing not only to visitor spending but also to employment generation, infrastructure development, investment, and regional economic activity.

WTTC expects India’s tourism sector to maintain its strong growth momentum in 2026. The country’s travel and tourism GDP is projected to expand by 8.5%, while international visitor spending is forecast to rise by 15.3% to approximately US$38 billion as international travel continues to recover.

Continued investment in airports, highways, railway networks, and tourism facilities is expected to remain a key driver of growth. Rising household incomes, a rapidly expanding middle class, stronger domestic travel demand, and the growing use of digital travel services are also transforming India’s tourism landscape.

Government initiatives aimed at improving destination infrastructure and attracting private-sector investment are expected to further support the sector’s long-term expansion.

WTTC’s outlook suggests that these trends could enable India to enter the world’s top four travel and tourism economies within the next decade. Such a rise would further underline the growing influence of Asian markets in the global tourism industry and strengthen India’s position as both a major international destination and one of the world’s largest outbound travel markets.

The sector’s expansion is also expected to create millions of new employment opportunities. WTTC forecasts that India’s travel and tourism industry will generate an additional 15.4 million jobs between 2026 and 2036.

India’s rapidly expanding outbound travel market could also create opportunities for neighboring destinations, including Nepal. Improved air connectivity and growing demand for multi-destination travel itineraries could support the expansion of pilgrimage, adventure, mountain, and cultural tourism across South Asia.

However, the extent of these benefits will depend on improved regional connectivity, tourism infrastructure, destination preparedness, and the ability of neighboring countries to develop products that appeal to the growing Indian travel market.

WTTC noted that sustaining India’s tourism growth will require continued investment, effective destination management, and the development of a skilled workforce. Nevertheless, the latest outlook indicates that India is well positioned to become one of the world’s most influential travel and tourism markets, with its growth expected to shape regional travel, aviation, and tourism investment over the coming decade.