For a sector that has spent the past few years recovering from a global disruption, travel and tourism now has a different problem: there are more people travelling, but destinations need to figure out how to manage that growth. The World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2026 reflects this shift, with global tourism conditions improving across most economies and emerging destinations gaining ground.
Japan has emerged as the world’s top-performing tourism economy in the latest index, moving up two places from 2024 to take the number one position. India, meanwhile, has made one of the more notable jumps, climbing nine places to rank 31st among 110 economies.
The latest TTDI, produced by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with Zurich Insurance Group, looks beyond visitor numbers and tourism revenue. Instead, it examines the conditions that enable destinations to develop travel and tourism, including infrastructure, air connectivity, cultural and natural resources, visitor services, business travel facilities, and sustainability.
Japan Takes The Lead
Japan has claimed the top spot in the 2026 index, replacing the United States, which has slipped to second place. Spain follows in third, while Australia has moved up two places to fourth. France completes the top five.
Germany ranks sixth, followed by the United Kingdom in seventh. China takes eighth place, Switzerland is ninth and Italy rounds out the top 10.
The composition of the list highlights the continued strength of established tourism markets, with nine advanced economies featuring among the top 10. China is the only exception. European destinations also have a strong presence, accounting for six positions on the list.
Japan’s rise comes alongside record international visitor numbers. The country welcomed 42.7 million international tourists in 2025, while visitor spending reached around USD 59.7 billion. Its efforts to attract travellers from a wider range of markets and encourage visitors to explore destinations beyond established hubs have also supported its tourism development.
What The Index Measures
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.
It assesses 17 pillars, covering areas such as safety and security, tourism policy, transport infrastructure, air connectivity, visitor services, natural resources, cultural resources, business travel, and sustainability.
The latest results point to broad improvements. Between 2024 and 2026, 92 per cent of the 110 economies assessed improved their TTDI scores, while the average score increased by 2.1 per cent. This marks the fastest pace of improvement since 2019.
Asia-Pacific recorded the strongest regional improvement, with its average score rising 3.6 per cent. The Middle East and North Africa followed with a 2.5 per cent increase, while Europe and Eurasia recorded growth of 1.8 per cent.
India Climbs Nine Places
India has climbed from 39th place in the 2024 index to 31st in 2026. The latest edition, however, covers 110 economies compared with 119 in the previous ranking.
The country’s improvement has been supported by gains in tourism infrastructure, cultural resources, and business travel facilities. Its cost-competitive travel environment, natural attractions and extensive cultural heritage also contribute to its tourism development profile.
India, China, and Mexico are among the economies with the highest numbers of UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites, while the country’s varied landscapes give it a substantial base for nature-based tourism as well.
The index also identifies areas that could influence India's ability to manage growing demand, including workforce skills, environmental sustainability, and tourism infrastructure.
The broader tourism sector is entering this next phase from a position of strength. International tourist arrivals reached 1.5 billion in 2025, while travel and tourism contributed a record USD 11.6 trillion to global GDP and supported around 366 million jobs worldwide.
Cultural resources recorded one of the strongest improvements across the index, rising 9.6 per cent from 2024, while natural resources increased by 4.1 per cent. The findings suggest that as international travel continues to expand, destinations will increasingly need to balance visitor demand with infrastructure, connectivity, affordability, sustainability, and the needs of local communities.
FAQs
1. Which country ranks first for tourism in 2026?
Japan ranks first in the WEF’s 2026 Travel & Tourism Development Index.
2. Which are the top 10 tourism countries in 2026?
Japan, the US, Spain, Australia, France, Germany, the UK, China, Switzerland, and Italy.
3. Where does India rank in the 2026 tourism index?
India ranks 31st among 110 economies, moving up nine places from 2024.
4. What does the WEF tourism index measure?
It assesses factors supporting tourism development, including infrastructure, connectivity, cultural and natural resources, services, and sustainability.
5. How many economies are covered by the 2026 index?
The WEF’s 2026 Travel & Tourism Development Index covers 110 economies.
