June 3, New Delhi: The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) stated on Tuesday that India is "well-positioned" to become one of the most dynamic tourism economies in the world with its blend of heritage, natural beauty, and modern innovation. The WTTC also predicted that foreign visitor spending in India is expected to reach Rs 3.2 trillion in 2025.
To keep the momentum going, the London-based global tourism organization also urged the government to provide targeted policy assistance and ongoing investment.
During a press conference in New Delhi, WTTC CEO and President Julia Simpson disclosed the numbers.
Simpson claimed that the "future does appear extremely bright" and emphasized the progress made in the Indian tourism industry in the years after the COVID outbreak.
In a presentation, she also provided some of the estimated numbers for the Indian tourism industry in 2025 and the 10-year prognosis for 2035.
Simpson referred to 2024 as a "really great year" for Indian travel and tourism, stating that domestic travel expenditures were essential to the country's post-pandemic recovery.
"I am aware that some of you would like to discuss domestic travel with me. International travel has now returned with incredible vigor, shattering all prior records, and I genuinely think it is a very significant and key cornerstone of the travel and tourist business here in India," she continued.
International visitor expenditure in India hit a record Rs 3.1 trillion (USD 36.8 billion) in 2024, 9% more than the previous top of 2019, according to the data sheet, which also includes similar amounts in USD.
"Travel and tourism in India are entering a new period of growth thanks to the resurgence of international tourists," she said.
After a period of heavy domestic reliance, Simpson said, the number of foreign visitors to India is currently at record highs, indicating the country's travel and tourism industry is undergoing extraordinary expansion.
"We wholeheartedly endorse the government's initiatives to streamline the e-visa procedure. Tourists are nevertheless hampered by reciprocal regulations and lengthy delays for important markets like the US, where appointments are supposedly unavailable until 2026, even though visa-on-arrival and e-visa procedures are in place. In a statement released later by WTTC, she was cited as saying, "One of the quickest ways to unleash greater international visitors and expenditure is to make it easy to visit India."
With spending skyrocketing to INR 15.5 trillion (USD 185.6 billion), 22% more than 2019 levels, domestic travel continued to be the driving factor. She noted during the conversation that travel and tourism's contribution to the Indian economy has reached about Rs 21 trillion, or 6.6% of the country's GDP, and that expenditure by both local and foreign tourists has set yet another milestone.
"As we all know, travel and tourism are also major employers in India. Last year, we saw a record-breaking number of jobs created by the sector, reaching an all-time high of over 46 million jobs across India, which represents over 9% of total employment in this country," she said.
The WTTC has projected that there will be 48.2 million jobs in 2025 and 63.9 million jobs in 2035.
"With a young, educated population facing fast automation through AI, the sector remains a crucial source of jobs and opportunity," the UK-based tourism organization said in a statement.
It stated that in order to realize the sector's full potential and increase its GDP contribution to between 10 and 11 percent, infrastructure strengthening—including high-speed rail and smart transportation solutions—will be crucial.
With its unique blend of technological innovation, natural beauty, and legacy, India is ideally positioned to emerge as one of the most vibrant tourism economies globally. This includes maximizing the potential of small and medium-sized businesses, which are the foundation of the industry and spur innovation in local communities and geographical areas, according to the WTTC.
It urged the government to provide "clear, consistent policy support" in line with the sector's tenacity and aspirations.
In September, the WTTC will hold its summit in Rome. From November 11 to 13, Saudi Arabia will host the TOURISE Summit in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia introduced the worldwide platform on May 22 that aims to lay out a future tourism roadmap and establish a "strong cooperation" between the public and private sectors.
Simpson was present at the unveiling ceremony and is a member of this new platform's influential advisory board.
"I would definitely love to see India taking part in both the summits," she replied when asked if Indian stakeholders should join this forum.