World Economic Forum's 2026 Travel & Tourism Index: Japan tops the list, see where India stands

Japan has topped the World Economic Forum’s 2026 Travel & Tourism Development Index, followed by the US, Spain, Australia and France to complete the top five. India moved up nine places to 31st, helped by its low travel costs, cultural resources and natural attractions, the WEF said in a statement.

The index, prepared with Zurich Insurance Group, ranks 110 economies on the conditions that support travel and tourism.

India moves up nine places

India’s rise was supported by improvements in tourism infrastructure, cultural assets and business travel resources, according to the WEF report.


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India also ranks among the top 10 economies for the number of World Heritage cultural sites, along with China and Mexico.

"Rapid improvements in tourism infrastructure, cultural assets and business travel resources have helped drive one of the largest gains among major tourism economies," WEF reported.

The report also pointed to some challenges for India. Workforce skills, environmental sustainability and tourism infrastructure remain areas that need improvement.

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Japan moved up two places to take the top spot in the 2026 ranking. It was followed by the US, Spain, Australia and France. And, Germany, the UK, China, Switzerland and Italy comprised the top 10.

Tourism conditions improve worldwide

Tourism conditions improved across most economies between 2024 and 2026. 101 of the 110 economies covered by the index improved their scores during the period. The average score rose 2.1%, the fastest growth since 2019.

The gains came from improvements in cultural resources, tourism infrastructure and services, air connectivity and business travel.

But the sector also faces higher costs and capacity pressures. Travel became less affordable in three out of four economies between 2024 and 2026. Tourism investment also failed to keep pace with rising demand, while labour shortages remained a challenge.

"The latest Travel & Tourism Development Index shows that the enabling conditions for travel and tourism are at their strongest since the pandemic, with 92% of economies improving since 2024," WEF's Head of Experience Economy and Cities Ramya Krishnaswamy said.

"The next chapter is not simply about attracting more visitors, but it is going to be about creating greater value by investing in people, infrastructure and stronger public-private collaboration so tourism delivers lasting benefits for communities, businesses and destinations," she added.