travel and tourism index 2023 india rank

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India drops 8 ranks in wef’s travel & tourism development index, japan top scorer.

Even as the travel and tourism industry reels from the impact caused by the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the sector is now showing signs of recovery in many parts of the world. Japan, the United States, Spain, France and Germany are at the top of the list. India, with a score of 4.2, ranks 54th, eight lower than in 2019. Data shows that India is the top scorer in South Asia.

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India Tourism Statistics 2023: The Ultimate Guide

by GoWithGuide travel specialist: Ajitsa A.

How many times a day do you use the words mango, pajamas, jungle, or shampoo? If the answer is more than once, you're already experiencing the cultural, historical, and social impact of India . Home to 1.4 billion people , and the birthplace of worldwide gems like chess and wireless communication, what you know about India is just the tip of the iceberg. The only thing that'll slow your journey is some good old information overload. No worries, you’ve come to the right place. 

Our ultimate guide to India will start your trip on the right foot, giving you the highs, lows, facts, and figures. Let's dive into what makes India so incredible, what to do once you get there, and how to create unforgettable memories in the land of mystery and diversity. 

​ Why We Love India  

India never lacks a mesmerizing scene, from the awe-inspiring Himalayas of the north to the enchanting classical dances of the south. The peninsula drew in 8.6 million foreign tourists in February 2023 alone. With 10.9 million international arrivals in 2019 and 6.98 million non-resident Indian arrivals, India beat out major tourist destinations like South Korea, Egypt, and Australia to be the 22nd most visited country in the world. 

So is tourism booming in India? Yes! 2020’s slump saw only 3 million visitors, but they bounced back in 2022 with 6.19 million visitors. So why do tourists love India? The culture, cuisine, and landscapes are a great place to start!

The Culture

Indian culture is celebrated globally, and these elements are but a glimpse of the melting pot of dialects, dressing, delicacies, and dances that await. 

• ​ Classical Indian Dances - Enchanting, vibrant, and full of life, India's folk dances are a passionate display of artistry. The energetic Bollywood moves that take the world by storm have deep roots in traditional dances such as Bharatanatyam and Kathak.
• Vibrant Festivals - If you're lucky enough to be in the country in March, carry a white shirt and a lot of energy for the world-famous Holi festival held across India. Everyone, whether you’re a believer or not, is invited and each region has a special celebration method.
• Spiritual Sites - Beautiful structures like the Vaishno Devi and the Shirdi Temple are just a drop in the ocean of India’s long romance with spirituality. 
• Buzzing Bazaars - Looking for one-of-a-kind souvenirs? Head to Delhi's Chandni Chowk, or Hyaderbad's Laad Bazaar. Markets are the backbone of India’s cities, with everything from food and spices to fabric and jewelry. Be sure to go with a local guide for safety and great deals. 
• Traveling By Train - India is known for its classic, charming trains, but if you're looking for luxury, check out the Palace on Wheels or the Maharaja Express . 

The Cuisine 

Sweet, spicy, and savory, India is often considered a mecca for culinary travelers. Each region has its gems, so the best way to discover them is with one of our all-out India food tours!

• ​ North Indian - The birthplace of butter chicken, aloo samosas, fluffy parathas, and dal makhani is an ideal place to kick off your foodie festival. A Delhi food walk would highlight the north's coveted cuisine.
• West Indian - Sweet and savory pork vindaloo, Laal maas, Ghewar, and fish curry are some of the delicious dishes you can expect from West India. 
• South Indian - Spices from the south are on another level, so dishes like the Hyderabadi biryani, masala dosa, and chicken Chettinad have transcended local tastes to become international favorites. 
• East & North East Indian - Welcome to the often underlooked east & northeast region. Khaja Pitha, mutton & pumpkin Lonvas, Sandesh and gobi manchurian are local must-haves. 
• Central Indian - There’s nothing like a fresh cup of Thandai, some Boti kebab, and some murgh musallam after a festival.

The Landscapes

When it comes to nature, India is a sanctuary blessed with scenery and terrain that makes it the only country to have tigers and lions. These landscapes will leave you breathless.

• Lohagad Fort Hiking Trail - Deep in Maharashtra lies an architectural marvel mixed with the lush greenery and steep hills that make this region a peaceful escape from the city.
• ​ Nubra Valley - Ladakh is a bucket list location for many reasons, but this cold desert valley mixed with blossoming foliage blends Tibet and Kashmir’s beauty seamlessly. 
• Alappuzha - There's a lot of praise for Kerala and with good reason. By far, the best way to enjoy this beach city is with a houseboat cruise through its backwaters. 
• Chandra Tal Lake - The thrilling nature of the Indian Himalayan Region can hardly be explained. You'll be at a loss for words when you encounter the crystal waters of ChandraTal. Simply stunning. 
• The Munnar Tea Hills - We're back in Kerala, but this time, it's to appreciate the rolling tea hills of Munnar, a spectacular example of man-made effort and nature's enduring allure. 

Who Else Loves India 

If you’re already falling in love with India, you’re in good company. The travel and tourism industry pulled in 194 billion USD , contributing to 6.8% of the country’s GDP. 

So where does India rank in tourism? According to the World Economic Forum, it ranked 34th out of 140 counties in its Travel and Tourism Competitive Index for 2019. Want to know which country sends the most tourists to India? The winner is…

• Bangladesh - With 2.5 million visitors touching down in 2019, India’s neighbor to the east has been the country’s largest tourism pool for years.
• The United States - How many US citizens visited India? In 2019,  1.5 million travelers from the United States arrived, with most touching down in India for spiritually-related travel. In fact, US citizens can stay in India for up to 180 days with a digitized e-tourist visa .
• The United Kingdom - The UK’s obsession with all things India explains the 1 million visitors that spent time in the nation greatly contributed to the Brit's passion for tea and curry.
• Australia - Over 370,000 visitors from the land down under flocked to this beloved peninsula in 2019. In fact, Australia took over Sri Lanka’s 2018 position as number 4.
• Canada - Capping off the top five is Canada with 351,859 visitors.

So we know why, and we know who, but where would you go if you touched down in India today? Decisions decisions. To ask which part of India is the most beautiful begs for a complicated answer, but we’ll do our best!

India At A Glance: Planning The Perfect Trip (Where, When & How)  

Alright, so you're ready to jet-set your way to the land of colors, but you're stumped about the rest. Here's our take on the best way to enjoy India's treasures. 

Where To Go: India’s Top Destinations

• ​ Kerala - Ask anybody which part of India is the most beautiful, and chances are they'll answer Kerala. Time Magazine agrees, dubbing Kerala the 9th greatest place in the world! Touring Kerala can take some time, so we recommend a detailed Backwater Kerala Tour that immerses you in the god's favorite land.
• New Delhi - From the India Gate to the Lotus temple and Humayun's tomb, India's capital city is the nation's heartbeat, combining stories and monuments from the nation’s grandest eras. To get a taste of the city, try a Private Delhi tour .
• Agra - One of the seven wonders of the world awaits, rested in Uttar Pradesh. This is the home of the Taj Mahal. Need we say more? Take on the Taj Mahal and Agra's history with a Hidden Gems tour .  
• Jaipur - Rajasthan’s capital city is a place for palace lovers. Known for the stunningly designed Amber Palace, Hawa Mahal, Samode Palace, and the City Palace, Jaipur's charm is glaring. The pink city is particularly magnificent at sunset, so set out early with a  Jaipur tour that features a stunning sunset dinner.
• Mumbai - With over 20 million residents, Mumbai is often considered India's New York. Swanky apartments, busy highways, and bustling markets make it the best place for a full-day Mumbai adventure.
• Varanasi - As the birthplace of Buddhism, and the home of the oldest religion in the world (Hinduism), India, and especially Varanasi, is a key spot for spiritual travelers. From the sacred temples and satisfying tea to the holy waters of the Ganges river, our Varanasi walking tours paint a vivid image of the nation’s deeply rooted spiritual history.

Travel Tip: What to know which city is the most touristy in India? It's a close tie between Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur. Looking to escape touristy crowds? Private tours in places like Ladakh and Varanasi can be organized with a GWG private guide.

When To Go: India’s Spectacular Weather

Given its sheer size, India has a complex seasonal schedule featuring monsoons, light rains, intense heat and cold winds depending on the region. So when should you go? Let's weigh the options.

• ​ Winter: The Big Chill (January - February) Generally speaking, India’s coldest months run from December to February, with temperatures in the south and southeast ranging from 20-25°C and those in colder northwest regions dropping to 10-15°C. 
• Summer: Sweltering Heat (March - June) Summer in India is no joke. Hot and humid temperatures across the country average 30-35°C, but can go up to 40°C in parts of Central and Southern India.
• Monsoon Season: Heavy Rains (July-September) July to September bring India's legendary and terrifying monsoon season, with rains lasting from 75 to 120 days, depending on the region. Areas in the southwest and western regions are heavily affected.
• Autumn: Monsoon Recovery (October-December) By September, the rains have eased up, and temperatures generally drop from 38°C to 28°C between October and November.

​ Overall, Winter and Autumn are considered ideal travel times due to the cool weather and calm rains. India’s status as a peninsula invites diverse winds and terrain, creating specific weather conditions for each region. Notable regions include;

Northern & Northeast India Destinations: Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Rajasthan, Himalayas, Varanasi Hottest Months - March to June (highs of 42°C) Average Daily Temperature - Erratic (from 20-40°C) Ideal Travel Time - October to February (average 17-26°C) Stay Inside - July to August, May.

​ Southern & Southeast India Destinations: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh Hottest Months - March to May (highs of 40°C) Average Daily Temperature - 32°C Ideal Travel Time - November to March (average 20-30°C) Stay Inside - June to September monsoons

​ Western India Destinations: Mumbai, Udaipur, Goa Hottest Months - May (highs of 33°C) Average Daily Temperature - 26.4°C Ideal Travel Time - November to April  Stay Inside - July Rainy Season

​ How To Get There: Navigating India’s Transport Systems

Traveling through India can be hectic, as the country's transportation networks can be tricky for newcomers. These transit tidbits are a great starting point, but we recommend discussing travel options with a  knowledgeable local guide .

• Travel By Rail - Catering to 8 billion travelers per year with over 20,000 daily trips, India’s rail system is a national symbol of ingenuity and coordination. Highly affordable and highly convenient.
• Rickshaw Rides - Need to get to a nearby landmark or monument? Hop in one of these three-wheeled wonders and watch your driver navigate traffic with ease. Rickshaws are fast, super cheap, and convenient.
• Taxi, Please - Taxis are a dime a dozen in India, but picking the right one can be a hassle. It’s best to stick to services like Ola Cabs or Uber when hailing a cab. Alternatively, GoWithGuide tours can be customized with a private car to ensure you spend your time touring and not in transit.

​ Travel Truth: Tourism’s Highs and Lows

​ So what is a major problem in India's travel and tourism industry? One of the biggest hindrances is the outside world's perception of India as a nation. That takes a lot of time and money to change. This is followed by the lack of infrastructure management and expansion to meet the growing tourism sector.

What To Expect: Life In The Land Of Colors

With so much culture to absorb, some shock is bound to set in. Is India a friendly country to foreigners? Yes, but there are a few things you should know before you go. Here’s the scoop on living your best stress-free life in India.

Do’s & Don’ts  

Every country has its quirks. When in India, it’s good to keep these tips in mind.

Staying Safe: Red Flags For Travelers 

Alright, let's get to the tough stuff. India's magic can sometimes be dulled by valid safety concerns. In 2021, the National Crime Records Bureau recorded 446 crime incidents for every 100,000 people, so can you stay safe while touring the country? Yes, if you start by looking out for these red flags;

Tampered Taxi Meter -  the phrase “Sorry sir/madam, my meter is broken” followed by a hiked taxi price is common. To avoid this, agree on a price beforehand, travel with a guide, or use set prices from apps like Uber.  If your taxi doesn’t have a meter, don’t even bother getting in.

Pickpockets and Public Transport - It's unavoidable. So stay as vigilant as possible and keep your things close when on public buses and trains. The stations are where pickpocketing antics run wild.

Train Ticket Valet - After you purchase a train ticket, anyone asking you to pay for "stamped validation is a scammer". There's no such thing. Keep your ticket to yourself and only show it to the train's conductor after paying. 

Bags, Please - Anyone asking to assist you with your luggage will want a tip afterward, even if it was for two seconds. To avoid this, keep your luggage in your hands.

​ That last part can put a dark cloud over your dreams of touring India, but it shouldn't. You can dismiss those travel woes with a private tour guide, so you get to;

• Stay away from sketchy venues and vendors.
• Avoid strange people looking to take advantage of you.
• Stick to a schedule designed by Y-O-U, so every activity is what you want to do.
• Discover India’s hidden gems, known only by locals.

​ Sounds like a sweet deal right? Let’s take your trip to the next level with a customizable private guided tour , and make those memories we’ve been talking so much about. 

P.S. Looking to travel with companions? The more, the merrier. Share this post with your friends and get them as excited about touring India as you are.

Popular India Tour Guides

I am a passionate Mumbaikar and has a keen interest in the culture and heritage of Mumbai. Over the last 5 years I have been doing Buddhist cave tours and culture walks in Mumbai which tell the story of the city. My favorite walk is the Gothic and Art Deco story of Mumbai. I have hosted hundreds of guests from 15 countries on this architecture walk. I am also a media technology veteran with multiple patents. I am the founder of sync2TV, a Mobile-alongside-TV marketing platform, with which TV content/ advertising can now become interactive via mobile phone in real time. Prior to getting into tourism, I have worked for more than a decade in WPP owned media agencies across India. China and Philippines. I am a master of silent meditation and a student of comparative religion. Other than architecture walks, I also hosts Buddhist cave tours around Mumbai. I holds a Bachelors in Mass Media (advertising and marketing) from S.I.E.S College, (Mumbai University). I also hold a Post Graduation Diploma (BRM) from Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad.                                                                                                                                  

Completed long 35 years in Travel & Tourism . Met tourists from different countries along with tourists from other parts of India . I feel proud since the beginning of my carrier while meets with the guest because meeting with the people, irrespective of countries, region , state opens up the stage of learning and also exchange the views .                                                                                                                                  

Enjoying my work as a guide because most intresting thing about my profession is meeting with the people from all over the world. Being a guide I love to take initiative to make my Guest feel comfortable and let them know about our Religion, people's opinion and as well know about there religion and tradition.Recieving people from every corner of the world with warm welcome as a guest to India and say them bye as a good friend is my quality.                                                                                                                                  

I am a post Graduate in Buddhism MA currently working as a tour guide holding license from Tourism Ministry Govt Of India.I am based in Mumbai- Bombay.I am associated with leading tour operators of Mumbai offering my services in English.                                                                                                                                  

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• Human Development

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

• T&T Sustainability
• Sub-Index Score

Travel & Tourism Development Index

The Travel and Tourism Development Report is published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) with support from industry leading data partners such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Published biennially, the TTCI benchmarks the T&T competitiveness of 140 economies and measures “the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable development of the Travel & Tourism (T&T) sector, which in turn, contributes to the development and competitiveness of a country.

The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report is a flagship product of the World Economic Forum’s Platform for Shaping the Future of Mobility, which brings together world leaders to ensure travel and transportation systems meet 21st century demands. This report serves as a strategic benchmarking tool for policy-makers, companies and complementary sectors to advance the future development of the T&T  sector by providing unique insight into the strengths and development areas of each country/economy to enhance industry competitiveness.

The overall index is made up of the following four main sub-indexes, 14 pillars and 90 individual indicators, distributed among the different pillars:

Enabling Environment

• T&T Policy and Enabling Conditions
• Infrastructure
• Natural and cultural resources

SUBJECT Variables

• India, which accounts for the majority of South Asia’s T&T GDP dropped six places to rank 54th on the 2022 Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index covering 117 countries.
• India’s score of 4.1 on a scale of 7 was slightly lower than the Asia Pacific (ASPAC) average of 4.2. Its strengths in the areas of demand drivers and policies helped India, being the only lower middle-income country, feature in the Top 35 on the 2022 Index.
• Though India’s overall score dropped marginally from 4.2 in 2019, its inability to get a hold of specific legacy areas such as Tourist Service Infrastructure weighed on its overall score and ranking.

The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index is made up of four main sub-indexes, 14 pillars and 90 individual indicators, distributed among the different pillars. The four sub-indexes are - Enabling Environment, T&T Policy and Enabling Conditions, Infrastructure, and Natural and cultural resources.

Sub-Index Summary

• India scored 5.3 on a scale of 7 on the 'T&T Demand Drivers' sub-index in 2019. The score helped India rank 7th amongst 117 countries on the Index in 2022.
• India's score on the 'T&T Sustainability' sub-index was among the lowest of the 5 sub-indexes. India scored 3.5 on a scale of 7 and was ranked 112th amongst 117 countries on the Index in 2022.
• On the 'Enabling Environment' sub-index, India's score on Safety & Security was the highest amongst the 5 pillars, at 4.8 on a scale of 7 T&T Development Index 2022. However, it was ranked 91 among 117 countries.

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India Ranked 34th In World Travel & Tourism Competitiveness

India has moved six places up to reach the 34 th rank in the world Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index. This index considers many elements of tourism including cultural resources, rich natural resource, price competitiveness and others. India has moved up from 40 th rank to 34 th ranks and is now a part of the top 25% of the countries in the list.

About Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index

The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index measures more than 140 categories including policies, economies, sustainable development and others, which contribute to development and competitiveness of the country. This list compares 140 countries in their strength in the field of global tourism and travel.

This index is calculated with 4 sub-indexes, which are derived from 14 pillars or indicators. This includes enabling environment, tourism policies, infrastructure, cultural resources, natural resources and others. These 14 pillars are used to derive the final competitiveness rank.

Also Read : Top 18 Interesting Facts about India

Tourism Status of India

India is a major contributor of the South Asia’s Travel and Tourism GDP. With this increase in rank, the country remains the sub-region’s most competitive economy in Travel and Tourism category. In the entire continent of Asia, Japan stands first (overall rank – 4 th ) in Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index. China holds the rank for being the largest travel and tourism economy in the list, belonging to Asia-Pacific region. China stands at 53 th rank, moving two spots up.

The interesting part of India being in the top 35 of the list is that, it is the only lower-middle income country to be in that list of top 35. The country has shown great improvement in the overall index score, thanks to the cultural assets, natural beauties and price competitiveness. India holds 33 rd rank in air infrastructure category, 51 st rank in international openness, 28 th rank in Port infrastructure, 8 th rank in cultural resources and 14 th rank in natural resources.

In comparison with other countries, the country holds 13 th rank in price competitiveness . Other notable lower-middle income countries in the list are China, Thailand, Mexico, Malaysia, Brazil and others. They stand out in the Business Travel and Cultural Resources genre of this economy level of countries.

Also Read : 22 Reasons Why India Should Be Your Next Travel Destination

Boost in the rank comes from the boost in business environment in India (from 89 th rank to 39 th ), betterment of Travel and Tourism policy and conditions (from 79 th to 69 th rank), infrastructure betterment (from 58 th rank to 55 th ) and improvement in information and communications technology readiness (from 112 th rank to 105 th ). In the past, India was ranked 52 nd in 2015.

It is not all good run for the country, there are a few areas where the country should improve, based on the score of the index. Top fields in that genre for improvement are environmental sustainability (current rank – 128 th ), enabling environment (current rank – 98 th ) and tourist service infrastructure (current rank – 109 th ).

Also Read : How to Get India Tourist Visa – A Complete Guide

India’s Tourism

In the WEF survey, India got an overall score of 4.4. In 2017, the score was 4.2. According to a report, India had more than 15.5 international tourists in 2019. The tourism industry of India is credited for 3.6% of GDP of the country and has created more than 26.7 lakh of jobs.

Also Read : Top 20 Cleanest Cities in India – Swachh Survekshan Survey 2019

Other Countries

The top five positions are filled by Spain, France, Germany, Japan and USA (replacing UK) . UK is now at 6 th position followed by Australia, Italy, Canada and Switzerland. Many countries that have hiked in the ranks belong to the Asia-Pacific region, indicating their growth in the genre. Other notable countries of Asia-Pacific in this list are Philippines (75 th rank; moving up four places), China, Japan and Pakistan (121 st rank; the least competitive country in the South Asia region in this genre). Pakistan holds 134 th position in safety and security conditions, making it South Asia’s least favorable country to travel for tourism.

Among the countries with higher growth, India is an eminent player. Other high growth countries are China (from 92 nd rank to 53 rd rank) and USA (16 th rank to 4 th rank).

Also Read : What Do I Need To Travel To India?

Tipping Point

According to a study made on the growth and the index indicates resilient growth in the sector of travel and tourism, throughout the world. However, according to experts, the world is moving towards Tipping Point. In this point, a few factors like less expensive travels and reduced tourist barriers are increasing the level of demand to a state of unsustainability.

In simpler terms, most of the countries are trying to make short term money with travel and tourism department without seeing the big picture of proper management of tourism assets. According to Lauren Uppink, WEF’s Head of Aviation, Travel and Tourism, the countries should make a holistic management of tourism assets to drive their economies with tourism.

Things to know before travelling in India:

• Best Time to Travel to India
• What To Wear In India – Essential Packing List
• Do Foreign Debit Cards Work in Indian ATMs?
• North or South India Which One Is Best Tour Option
• Is India Safe for Solo Female Travellers?
• Essential Hindi Words and Phrases for Travel to India

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India 54th On Global Travel Development Index, Top-Ranked In South Asia

Japan has topped the global charts, followed by the US, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austraila, UK, Singapore and Italy in the top ten.

Overall international tourism and business travel is still below pre-pandemic levels. (Representational)

India was on Tuesday ranked at the 54th place in a global travel and tourism development index, down from 46th in 2019, but still remained on the top within South Asia.

The World Economic Forum's biennial travel and tourism study also showed a recovering sector following pandemic lows, though the recovery has been uneven and challenges remain.

The Travel and Tourism Development Index assesses 117 economies, identifying key factors in enabling the sustainable and resilient growth of travel and tourism economies.

"COVID-19 shutdowns have re-emphasised the important contribution travel and tourism makes to many economies around the world," Lauren Uppink, Head of Aviation, Travel and Tourism at the World Economic Forum, said.

"As the world emerges from the pandemic, economies must invest in building a strong and resilient environment to deliver the travel and tourism experience and services for many decades to come," Ms Uppink added.

While overall international tourism and business travel is still below pre-pandemic levels, the sector recovery has been bolstered by greater vaccination rates, return to more open travel, and growing demand for domestic and nature-based tourism. Many businesses and destinations have adapted to these shifting demand dynamics.

According to estimates, the difference in international tourist arrivals between January 2021 and January 2022 is greater than arrivals growth in all of 2021.

Other than the US, the top-10 scoring economies are high-income economies in Europe or Asia-Pacific.

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The Travel and Tourism Development Index 2021 is a direct evolution of the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index, which has been published biennially for the past 15 years, WEF said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Travel & Tourism Development Index 2021: Rebuilding for a Sustainable and Resilient Future

1. About the Travel & Tourism Development Index

The Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) is a direct evolution of the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), which has been published biennially for the past 15 years. The TTDI benchmarks and measures “the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable and resilient development of the Travel and Tourism (T&T) sector, which in turn contributes to the development of a country”.

The transition from TTCI to TTDI reflects the index’s increased coverage of travel and tourism (T&T) development concepts, including the expanding role of sustainability and resilience in T&T growth, and is designed to focus more attention on the sector’s role in broader economic and social development as well as the greater need for T&T stakeholder collaboration and integrated development strategies (local, regional and international) to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, bolster the recovery and deal with future challenges and risks. The TTDI framework and methodology have also been enhanced to reduce index bias and improve flexibility in use. Despite these changes, the TTDI and TTCI remain very close. Earlier editions of the TTCI have always looked at the concept of “competitiveness” as a means of developing the T&T sector and thus measured elements that enabled such development. In this context, It is also important to point out that the new TTDI does not measure the level of T&T development that an economy possesses, but the potential drivers of such development.

The development of the TTDI was pursued following the publication of the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019: Travel and Tourism at a Tipping Point , which considered the challenges linked to tourism development and growth such as overcrowding, unbalanced distribution of T&T economic benefits and damage to tourism-generating natural and cultural assets that ultimately diminished liveability for residents, created a local backlash against T&T development and harmed visitor experiences. Since the publication of the 2019 TTCI, the impact of COVID-19 and now geopolitical disruptions have further demonstrated the potential volatility of the sector and the need to reassess how it embeds resilience into its design and management practices.

In order to ensure a productive and long-standing recovery, the sector must incorporate lessons learned from current crises and ensure better preparedness for future headwinds, many of which can be historic and long term in nature and impact. The new TTDI framework is designed to support this pivot in strategy and practice.

The TTDI framework has been created with input from T&T stakeholders, including an advisory group that includes representatives from: Bloom Consulting, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the University of Surrey, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). In addition, the index relies on close collaboration with the following data partners: AirDNA, Bloom Consulting, Euromonitor International, GlobalPetrolPrices.com, IATA, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), STR, Tripadvisor, the UNWTO and the WTTC.

Please note that while the TTDI is an update of the TTCI, due to the altered methodology, framework and other differences, the 2021 TTDI should not be compared to the 2019 TTCI. To help address this, the 2019 results were recalculated using the new framework, methodology and indicators of the TTDI. Therefore, all comparisons in score and rank throughout this publication are between the 2019 results and the 2021 results of the TTDI.

For more detailed information on the TTDI methodology and new framework, country peer and income group classification, indicator details, partner information and to explore the index results through interactive data visualizations, please visit the index website .

1.1 Benchmarking the enablers of Travel and Tourism development

The index provides a strategic benchmarking tool for business, governments, international organizations and others to develop the T&T sector. By allowing cross-country comparison and by benchmarking countries’ progress on the drivers of T&T development, it informs policies and investment decisions related to the development of T&T businesses and the sector as a whole. The index provides unique insights into the strengths and areas for development of each country to support their efforts to enhance the long-term growth of their T&T sector in a sustainable and resilient manner. Furthermore, it provides a valuable platform for multistakeholder dialogue to formulate appropriate policies and actions at local, national, regional and global levels.

The index is comprised of five subindexes, 17 pillars and 112 individual indicators, distributed among the different pillars. However, the five subindexes are not factored into the calculation of the index and are used only for presentation and categorization purposes. The Non-Leisure Resources, Socioeconomic Resilience and Conditions, and T&T Demand Pressure and Impact pillars are all new when comparing earlier TTCI editions with the new TTDI.

Figure 1: The Travel & Tourism Development Index framework

Business Environment (9 indicators) : This pillar captures the extent to which a country’s policy environment is conducive to companies doing business. Research has found significant links between economic growth and aspects such as how well property rights are protected and the efficiency of the legal framework. Policy stability and levels of regulatory burdens and corruption also play a critical role in determining economic development, productivity and overall investment decisions. These factors are important for all sectors, including T&T. In addition, we consider access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which is a particularly relevant issue for T&T development as the majority of operators are SMEs.

Safety and Security (6 indicators) : Safety and security are critical factors in determining the success of a country’s T&T sector. This pillar measures the extent to which a country exposes locals, tourists and businesses to security risks. In addition to creating barriers to T&T investment, countries with a high incidence of crime or violence are likely to deter visitors, making it less attractive to develop the T&T sector in those places. Here, the costliness and occurrence of common crime and violence, police reliability, and terrorism and armed conflict are considered.

Health and Hygiene (6 indicators): This pillar measures healthcare infrastructure, accessibility and health security. COVID-19 has highlighted the potential impact of communicable diseases on the T&T sector. In particular, the pandemic has demonstrated how important a country’s healthcare system is when it comes to mitigating the impact of pandemics and ensuring safe travel conditions, and workforce availability and resilience. In general, if tourists or sector employees do become ill, the country’s health sector must be able to ensure that they are properly cared for, as measured by the availability of and access to physicians, hospital beds and general healthcare services. Moreover, access to safe drinking water and sanitation is important for the comfort and health of travellers and locals alike. Please note that due to evolving COVID-19 conditions, this pillar does not track the pandemic itself.

Human Resources and Labour Market (9 indicators): This pillar measures the availability of quality employees and the dynamism, efficiency and productivity of the labour market. High-quality human resources in an economy ensure that the sector has access to the collaborators it needs. Regarding a quality workforce, this means that years of schooling, formal educational attainment rates, the education system’s ability to meet economic needs and private-sector involvement in upgrading human resources are measured. Regarding the labour market, the flexibility, efficiency and openness of labour markets, as well as labour productivity in the hospitality, restaurant and transport sectors, are tracked.

ICT Readiness (8 indicators): This pillar measures the development and use of ICT infrastructure and digital services. Online services and digital platforms continue to grow in importance for T&T business operations. Such services and platforms are being used for everything from planning itineraries to booking travel and accommodation. Moreover, ICT has become crucial for businesses to access and advertise to new markets, improve efficiency and gain insights into consumer needs. The components of this pillar measure not only the existence of modern physical infrastructure (e.g. mobile network coverage and electricity supply), but also the degree to which digital platforms are used for T&T and related services and gain insights into consumer needs. The components of this pillar measure not only the existence of modern physical infrastructure (e.g. mobile network coverage and electricity supply), but also the degree to which digital platforms are used for T&T and related services.

Prioritization of Travel and Tourism (5 indicators): This pillar measures the extent to which the government and investors actively promote and invest in the development of the T&T sector. The extent to which the government prioritizes the T&T sector has an important impact on T&T development. By making clear that the sector is of primary concern, the government can channel funds to essential development projects and coordinate the actors and resources necessary to develop the sector. The government can also play an important role in directly attracting tourists through national marketing campaigns. This pillar includes measures of government spending, country branding and the completeness and timeliness of providing T&T data to international organizations, as these indicate the importance that a country assigns to its T&T sector. Moreover, overall capital investment in T&T is accounted for as it measures the degree to which public and private stakeholders are willing to invest resources in T&T relative to other parts of the economy.

International Openness (4 indicators): This pillar measures how open a country is to visitors and providing travel services. Developing a T&T sector internationally requires a certain degree of openness and travel facilitation. Restrictive policies such as cumbersome visa requirements diminish tourists’ willingness to visit a country. Components measured in this pillar include: the number of bilateral air service agreements that the government has entered into, which affects the availability of air connections to the country; and the number of regional trade agreements in force, which indicates the extent to which it is possible to provide world-class tourism services. Financial openness is also measured as the free flow of capital is important for cross-border trade and investment in T&T services.

Price Competitiveness (5 indicators): This pillar measures how costly it is to travel or invest in a country. Lower costs related to travel in a country increase its attractiveness for many travellers as well as making its T&T sector more appealing to investors. Among the aspects of price competitiveness taken into account in this pillar are: airfare ticket taxes and airport charges, which can make flight tickets much more expensive; the relative cost of hotel and short-term rental accommodation; the cost of living, represented by purchasing power parity; and fuel price costs, which directly influence the cost of travel.

Air Transport Infrastructure (4 indicators ): Air connectivity is essential for travellers’ ease of access to and from countries, as well as movement within many countries. In this pillar we measure international and domestic air route capacity and quality, using indicators such as available seat kilometres, the number of operating airlines and the efficiency of air transport services. The extent to which a country’s airports are integrated into the global air transport network is also measured.

Ground and Port Infrastructure (7 indicators): This pillar measures the availability of efficient and accessible ground and port transportation to important business centres and tourist attractions. Sufficiently extensive road and railway networks, indicated by road and railway densities, as well as road, railway and port infrastructure that meets international standards of comfort, security and modal efficiency are vital to enabling a T&T economy. This pillar also accounts for the efficiency of and access to public transport services such as underground rail systems and taxis as these are regularly used by visitors and T&T employees, especially in urban locations.

Tourist Service Infrastructure (5 indicators): This pillar measures the availability and competitive provision of key tourism services such as accommodation and car rentals. The availability of sufficient accommodation, resort and leisure facilities can represent a significant advantage for a country. We measure the level of tourism service infrastructure through the number of hotel rooms and short-term rental units, complemented by the extent of access to services such as car rentals and ATMs. Competition among tourism services is also accounted for because it plays a role in the pricing and quality of services.

Natural Resources (5 indicators): This pillar measures the available natural capital as well as the development of outdoor tourism activities. Natural capital is defined in terms of the landscape, natural parks and richness of fauna. Countries with natural assets may be better positioned to attract tourists. In this pillar, we include several attractiveness measures, including the number of United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) natural World Heritage Sites, the richness of fauna and biodiversity in the country and the scope of protected areas, which indicates the extent of national parks and nature reserves. Digital Demand [i] for nature and relevant activities is also measured as an illustration of how well known and effectively marketed a country’s natural assets are.

Cultural Resources (6 indicators): This pillar measures the availability of cultural resources such as archaeological sites and entertainment facilities. To an extent, this pillar captures how cultural resources are protected, developed and promoted. Included here are the number of UNESCO cultural World Heritage Sites, the number of large stadiums that can host significant sport or entertainment events, and a measure of Digital Demand for a country’s cultural sites and entertainment. Also included are the number of UNESCO Creative Cities, representing efforts to protect and develop cultural and creative activities and industries in urban centres.

Non-Leisure Resources (4 indicators): This pillar measures the extent and attractiveness of factors that drive business and other non-leisure travel, which account for a significant share of T&T revenue and profit. We have included the presence of major multinational corporations and cities that are highly integrated into the global economy as proxies for business travel. Meanwhile, the number and quality of a country’s universities play an important role in attracting academic travel. Lastly, online searches related to business, academic and medical travel are also measured to imply global interest in a country’s non-leisure resources.

Environmental Sustainability (15 indicators): This pillar measures the general sustainability of an economy’s natural environment, protection of its natural resources, and vulnerability to and readiness for climate change. The importance of the natural environment in providing an attractive location for tourism cannot be overstated, so policies and factors enhancing environmental sustainability are an important aspect of ensuring a country’s future attractiveness as a destination. Water stress, marine and air pollution, loss of forest cover and the degree of extinction risk for species provide an insight into the status of a country’s environment. Additionally, public- and private-sector protection of the environment and national parks and the ratification of international environmental treaties indicate the degree to which the government and the private sector are preserving the natural assets that generate nature-based T&T. Lastly, metrics related to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), the use of renewable energy, investment in green infrastructure and exposure to weather-related events are important in understanding how exposed, ready and willing a country is to address climate change, which in itself is one of the greatest long-term threats the T&T sector faces.

Socioeconomic Resilience and Conditions (7 indicators): This pillar captures the socio-economic well-being and resilience of an economy. Gender equality, inclusion of a diverse workforce, greater workers’ rights and reducing the number of young adults not in education, employment or training are all important for improving employee productivity and creating a larger and higher-quality labour pool. This is particularly important for the T&T sector as it often employs an above-average number of women, members of minorities and youths. Investment in and greater coverage of social protection services such as child and maternity support, unemployment and disability benefits are also key to making the labour market more resilient in the face of economic downturns and other shocks. Furthermore, combined with access to basic resources, as measured by poverty rates, all of the factors above play a role in broader social and economic stability, which affects investment in T&T.

Travel and Tourism Demand Pressure and Impact (7 indicators): This pillar measures factors that may indicate the existence of, or risk related to, overcrowding and demand volatility, as well as the quality and impact of T&T. The T&T sector does not operate in a vacuum. Unmanaged tourism development can lead to destinations operating beyond their capacity, leading to overcrowding, damaged natural and cultural resources, strained infrastructure, increased housing prices and overall reduced liveability for local residents. If left unaddressed, such issues can lead to a backlash by residents towards tourism, reduced visitor satisfaction and lower overall destination attractiveness, all of which negatively affect T&T development. Aspects measured include length of visitor stays, tourism seasonality, proxies for the dispersion of tourism, and the distribution of T&T economic benefits to local communities. Such factors can all help mitigate these issues by lowering the strain on destination capacity, creating resident buy-in, promoting more travel options and markets, and enriching travellers’ experiences.

1.2 Data and methodology

Most of the dataset for the TTDI is statistical data from international organizations, with the remainder based on survey data from the World Economic Forum’s annual Executive Opinion Survey, which is used to measure concepts that are qualitative in nature or for which internationally comparable statistics are not available for enough countries.

The sources of statistical data include, but are not limited to, AirDNA, Bloom Consulting, Euromonitor International, IATA, ICAO, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the International Union for the Conservation (IUCN), STR, Tripadvisor, UNESCO, UN Statistics Division, UNWTO, the World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, CIA World Factbook, WTO, WTTC and the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). The overall TTDI score is computed through successive aggregations of scores, from the indicator level (e.g. the lowest, most disaggregated level) through the pillar levels, using a simple average (i.e. the arithmetic mean) to combine the components. Scores on each indicator are first normalized and rated on a common scale.

1.3 Country coverage

The TTDI covers 117 countries. Economies that were covered in the TTCI 2019 but are not covered in the TTDI 2021 are Algeria, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Gambia, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Jamaica, Liberia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Norway, Oman, Russian Federation, Seychelles, Uganda, Ukraine, Zimbabwe and Taiwan, China.

WEF’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index 2021: India Ranks 54

The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) ranked India 54th position (down from 46th in 2019) with a score of 4.1 in its Travel and Tourism Development Index 2021.

The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) ranked India 54th position (down from 46th in 2019) with a score of 4.1 in its Travel and Tourism Development Index 2021, but still, India remains the top performer in South Asia. Japan has topped (1) the global chart and the bottom position (117) is occupied by the country Chad.

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About the WEF’s Travel and Tourism Development Index 2021 

The WEF’s Travel and Tourism Development Index 2021 is a direct evolution of the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index, which has been published biennially for the past 15 years. The Index assesses 117 economies, based on 5 subindexes, 17 pillars and 112 individual indicators, distributed among the different pillars.

The five Sub indexes:

• Enabling Environment
• Travel and Tourism Policy and Enabling Conditions
• Infrastructure
• Travel and Tourism Demand Drivers
• Travel and Tourism Sustainability

Countries in the Global Ranking:

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• World Economic Forum (WEF) Founder and Executive Chairman: Klaus Schwab;
• World Economic Forum (WEF) Headquarters: Cologny, canton of Geneva, Switzerland;
• World Economic Forum (WEF) was Established: 1971.

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New Delhi : After two years of slowdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, India’s travel and tourism sector has shown “signs of recovery” and is the top performer in South Asia, according to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) latest study .

India grabbed the 54th spot in the overall rankings, down from 46th in 2019. The travel and tourism development index assessed a total of 117 countries for the study.

Titled ‘Travel & Tourism Development Index 2021: Rebuilding for a Sustainable and Resilient Future’, the study measured “the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable and resilient development of the T&T sector, which in turn contributes to the development of a country”.

In this year’s index — which consists of five subindexes, 17 pillars and 112 individual indicators — Japan took the number one spot, followed by the US, Spain, France and Germany among the top five.

“Covid shutdowns have re-emphasised the important contribution travel and tourism makes to many economies around the world,” said Lauren Uppink, head of aviation, travel and tourism at the WEF, in a statement.

“As the world emerges from the pandemic, economies must invest in building a strong and resilient environment to deliver the travel and tourism experience and services for many decades to come,” Uppink added.

‘Recovery still slow and fragile’

The WEF’s findings credited recovery in tourism due to an increase in vaccination rates, curbs in travel restrictions and economic growth. But noted that the recovery still remains “slow and fragile” due to uneven “vaccine distribution, capacity constraints, labour shortages, supply chain disruptions and more”.

“Government, business and civil society leaders can address barriers to recovery by looking at the different factors that can support the long-term development and resiliency of their respective travel and tourism economies,” added Uppink.

“This will require decision-makers to restore consumer confidence and international openness by prioritizing such things as enhanced health and security measures, encouraging inclusive labour practices, improving environmental sustainability and investing in digital technology.”

The study further revealed that while international tourist arrivals globally have increased by 18 million in January this year as compared to the same period in 2021, they were still 67 per cent below 2019 levels.

Also read: Singapore tourism numbers soar as it commits to remaining open, Indians visitors ranked first

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India drops to 54th place on tourism development Index, top in South Asia

India was on tuesday ranked at the 54th place in a global travel and tourism development index, down from 46th in 2019, but still remained on the top within south asia..

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India ranks third with 67 unicorns; Byju’s, PharmEasy dropout

The drop-outs from the unicorn chart in 2023 were byju’s and pharmeasy, according to a report by the hurun research institute..

With a total of 67 unicorns , India ranked third on the global list but was a far cry compared with the two giants – the US and China – who reigned with 703 and 340 high growth start-ups. The drop-outs from the unicorn chart in 2023 were Byju ’s and PharmEasy, according to a report by The Hurun Research Institute.

There are a total of 1,453 unicorns in the world, with the world minting one unicorn every two days over the last year. TikTok owner ByteDance retained the title of being the world’s most valuable unicorn worth $220 billion, despite threat of a US ban, while the total value of the world’s unicorns reached $5 trillion, which is equivalent to the GDP of Japan.

The data is for January 2023-January 2024, compared with January 2022-January 2023.

OpenAI posted the fastest valuation rise with an addition of $80 billion in value, followed by SpaceX, which added $43 billion.

“ India ’s start-up ecosystem has slowed, primarily fuelled by lack of investment into start-ups despite the recent stock market record highs. Another factor is that founders from India produced more offshore unicorns than any other country, co-founding 109 unicorns outside of India compared with 67 in India,” Hurun India founder and chief researcher Anas Rahman Junaid said.

“Of the unicorns founded outside of India, significantly all were in the US (95), led by the Bay Area, with four in the UK, three in Singapore and two in Germany. While it’s encouraging to see the rise of Krutrim, India’s first AI unicorn, there remains a substantial gap when compared to the US and China, which lead with 60 and 37 AI unicorns, respectively,” he added.

About 430 unicorns saw their valuations rise, of which 171 were new ones, while 170 saw their valuations drop, of which 42 were ‘demoted’ as their valuation no longer made the cut of $1 billion.

“The most active city for unicorns outside of the US and China was London, followed by Bengaluru, Paris and Berlin,” Hurun Report chairman and chief researcher Rupert Hoogewerf said.

Tiger Global took the title of the ‘World’s Most Successful Unicorn Investor’ for the first time, investing into 205 unicorns. SoftBank, under Masayoshi Son, was second with 169 unicorns, followed by HongShan, which made history as it overtook Sequoia, historically a titan in the field.

Sequoia dropped down to fourth, after carving out its Chinese and SE Asia & India operations. Sequoia’s Chinese partnership rebranded as HongShan, whilst its SE Asian and Indian partnership rebranded as Peak XV and also made the Top 50. Andreessen Horowitz, also known as A16Z, under Ben Horowitz, was fifth.

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Investment in Indian Hotels Surged in 2023 – India Report

Bulbul Dhawan , Skift

April 2nd, 2024 at 11:00 PM EDT

2023 was a record year for Indian hospitality in terms of hotel investments as well as new branded hotel openings and signings.

Bulbul Dhawan

The Skift India Newsletter is your go-to platform for all news related to travel, tourism, airlines, and hospitality in India.

The Indian hospitality industry witnessed investments to the tune of $401 million in 2023, real estate company JLL revealed in a new report. This was nearly four times the transaction volume recorded in 2022. 

2023 hospitality industry overview: A total of 22 hotel transactions took place in 2023, which is the largest number of assets traded in the 10 years, JLL said. One-fourth of the total investments value related to under-construction hotels in business as well as leisure destinations. 

The industry signed hotels with nearly 25,200 keys and opened over 12,600 keys in 2023. JLL added that there was a significant interest in tier-2 cities, which accounted for 54% of the total signings. Jaideep Dang, managing director, hotels and hospitality group, India, JLL, said that 2023 was a record year in terms of hotel investments as well as new branded hotel openings and signings. 

The 2024 outlook: In the first three months of 2024, India recorded hotel transaction volumes of $78 million. This was 80% higher than the transaction volumes recorded between January and March 2023. Dang believes the 2023 momentum will continue this year. 

Airports Body to Infuse $3.6 Billion Capital For Infrastructure Upgrade

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning a capital expenditure of INR 300 billion ($3.6 billion) over the next five years to build and revamp the airport infrastructure in the country. 

The statutory body is also expecting its highest-ever turnover in the 2023-24 financial year, projected at INR 150 billion ($1.8 billion). Sanjeev Kumar, chairman, AAI, said that the body is likely to report a INR 50 billion ($600 million) profit before tax.

Kumar added that by 2047, Indian airports are likely to cater to 3 billion passengers a year. The aviation industry in India is experiencing a significant boom. Between 2014 and 2023, the number of airports in India doubled while the number of passengers carried has risen from 60 million to over 150 million.

Online Business Travel Platform Tumodo Enters India

Corporate travel platform Tumodo has launched its operations in India. Established in 2023, the company has recently received funding of $35 million . Tumodo is aiming to capture a 5% market share in India by 2027, an ET report said . 

A recent report by Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) said that India’s business travel spending is expected to reach $38 billion this year. Globally, India is the ninth-largest market for business travel expenditure.

New Airline Directive Allows Passengers to Deboard Flight in Case of Delay

The latest airline directive allows passengers to deboard a plane in case of flight delay caused by poor weather. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) issued the directive last week. Before this, airlines could keep passengers for up to 12 hours on ground while waiting for departure. 

Zulfiquar Hasan, director general, BCAS, said that airlines and security agencies concerned will take the decision regarding deboarding of passengers. In case of an airline not deboarding the passengers, airport security can direct them to do so. 

Brij Hotels Aiming to Operate 50 Boutique Hotels in Next Five Years

Brij Hotels aims to have 50 operational boutique hotels in the next five years. The company currently has eight operational properties in its portfolio. An ET report said that Brij Hotels recently raised $4 million in funding, and is planning another round of funding in a year.

A report by HVS ANAROCK said that the global boutique hotel segment has grown 50% over the last three years. The company is currently witnessing a 50-55% occupancy growth, and is expecting this to increase. 

Vistara to Reduce Flight Operations Amid Cancellations, Delays

Full-service carrier Vistara is planning to temporarily reduce its flight operations, Indian news agency PTI reported . This comes as the airline is witnessing flight cancellations and delays due to non-availability of pilots. Vistara canceled nearly 80 flights on Monday and more than 190 were delayed. 

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has accordingly sought a detailed report from the airline on the situation. Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation has also asked Vistara to submit daily reports on the delays and cancellations.

Media reports have said that the airline’s pilots are not reporting to work to protest against the new pay structure. Vistara’s new pay structure aligns with that of sister airline Air India’s ahead of their impending merger. 

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Photo credit: Radisson Hotel Group opened Uday Palace Navsari, a member of Radisson Individuals, in 2023. Radisson Hotel Group

Global Innovation Index 2023: Switzerland, Sweden and the U.S. lead the Global Innovation Ranking; Innovation Robust but Startup Funding Increasingly Uncertain

Geneva, September 27, 2023 PR/2023/908

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Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom and Singapore are the world’s most innovative economies in 2023, according to WIPO’s Global Innovation Index (GII), as a group of middle-income economies have emerged over the past decade as the fastest climbers of the ranking.

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The GII 2023 uses 80 indicators to track global innovation trends in 130-plus economies, guiding policy makers and business leaders in stimulating human ingenuity. This year, the report’s findings are unveiled against a background of slow economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, high interest rates and geopolitical conflict.

The 2023 edition identifies an increasingly uncertain outlook for the venture capital (VC) that helps transform human ingenuity into new products and services, with the global value of VC funding marking a significant plunge last year.

In the annual ranking, China – the only middle-income economy in the GII top 30 – ranks 12 th followed by Japan in the 13 th position. Israel (14 th ) is back among the GII top 15, gaining two steps. Finland (6th) is on an upward trend along with Denmark (9 th ), Sweden (2nd) and the Baltic economies (Estonia 16 th , Lithuania 34 th and Latvia 37 th ).

In the past 10 years, Indonesia (61 st ) joins China, Türkiye (39 th ), India (40 th ), Viet Nam (46 th ), the Philippines (56 th ), and the Islamic Republic of Iran (62 nd ) in the group of middle-income economies to have climbed the GII rankings fastest. In the last four years, and since the pandemic started, Mauritius (57th), Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Pakistan have risen the most in rank (in order of rank progression).

A total of 21 economies outperformed on innovation as expected relative to their level of development, the majority located in Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania. India, the Republic of Moldova and Viet Nam are each innovation overperformers for 13 years in a row. Indonesia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan maintain their overperformer status for a second year and Brazil for a third consecutive year.

A group of emerging economies are consistently climbing the GII ranks, showing how a focus on the innovation ecosystem can make a difference. Globally, despite a downturn in venture capital funding, the GII 2023 should reassure us that innovative activity currently continues to run strong but that innovative activity should continue to shift from quantity to quality. With the GII, policymakers across the world continue to have a rich and trusted source of data and information to craft pro-innovation policies to unleash the innovative potential of their people. WIPO Director General Daren Tang

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Among the GII’s key findings:

• Scientific publications, research and development (R&D), the number of venture capital (VC) deals (but not their value) and patents continued to increase to higher than ever levels. However, growth rates were lower than the exceptional increases seen in 2021.
• In 2022, spending by corporations representing the largest investors in R&D reached USD 1.1 trillion in 2022 – a historic high. They increased their R&D spend by around 7.4 percent in 2022, down from 15 percent growth in 2021.
• Mirroring the recent surge of artificial intelligence, the ICT hardware sectors saw graphic card and chipmakers in the lead with the most notable R&D growth in 2022. Other sectors which cut back R&D spending during the pandemic, such as automobiles and travel and leisure, invested strongly again in 2022.
• According to preliminary data, global government R&D budgets are estimated to have increased in real terms in 2022. Significant increases took place in Japan and the Republic of Korea, and smaller ones in Germany, making up for cuts in other economies.
• Reflecting a deteriorating climate for risk finance, the total value of VC investments declined sharply by close to 40 percent in 2022, albeit from unusually high levels in 2021. Africa was the only region not to see a decline in 2022.
• The VC outlook for 2023 and 2024 is uncertain, with high interest rates likely to continue to impact the financing of innovation.
• Overall, technology adoption is developing positively even though penetration for some technologies, such as electric vehicles and cancer treatment, remains low.

Global rankings All 2023 rankings

• Switzerland (Number 1 in 2022)
• United States of America (2)
• United Kingdom (4)
• Singapore (7)
• Finland (9)
• Netherlands (5)
• Germany (8)
• Denmark (10)
• Republic of Korea (6)
• France (12)
• Israel (16)
• Canada (15)
• Estonia (18)
• Hong Kong, China (14)
• Austria (17)
• Norway (22)
• Iceland (20)

GII Co-Editors on Innovation

“We are witnessing exponential progress in digital technologies and many fields of deep science. This is providing a boost to innovation across sectors and holds the hope of providing solutions to some of our world’s complex problems in climate, food, health and related challenges.”

“While many governments still struggle with the massive amounts of public debt accumulated during COVID, the business sector has continued to increase its levels of innovation. However, this trend may hide growing disparities, as some sectors have attracted significant funding (typically artificial intelligence) while gaps have started to appear in the financing chain, especially venture capital for small and new businesses. Against the background of growing trade tensions and lower levels of international cooperation, such trends could hamper the ability of innovative firms to fully contribute to the resumption of sustainable growth.”

Global leaders in innovation in 2023 – Regional Breakdown

Northern america.

The United States (3 rd ) scores the best in the world in 13 of the 80 GII 2023 innovation indicators. It holds the number one spot globally in various critical indicators, including global corporate R&D investors, VC received, university quality, combined valuation of unicorn companies and the value of corporate intangible asset intensity.

Canada (15 th ) remains firmly positioned among the top 15 global innovators. The country leads in indicators including VC recipients (at first place), impact of its scientific publications (H-Index, 4) and software spending (5).

Europe hosts the greatest number of innovation leaders among the top 25 – 16 in total, one more than in 2022. Out of 39 European economies covered, 19 move up the rankings this year (seven more than last year), namely Sweden (2 nd ), Finland (6 th ), Denmark (9 th ), France (11 th ), Estonia (16 th ), Norway (19 th ), Ireland (22 nd ), Belgium (23 rd ), Italy (26 th ), Portugal (30 th ), Lithuania (34 th ), Latvia (37 th ), Greece (42 nd ), Slovakia (45 th ), Romania (47 th ), Serbia (53 rd ), North Macedonia (54 th ), Ukraine (55 th ) and Albania (83 rd ). 

Among economies improving their performance, France excels in intangible assets (at third place), global brands (4), industrial designs (8) and global corporate R&D investors (9). Belgium performs well in R&D expenditure (6), researchers (8) and university-industry R&D collaboration (9).

Serbia approaches the top 50 with a strong performance in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows (11) and labor productivity growth (14).

South East Asia, East Asia, and Oceania

Six South East Asia, East Asia and Oceania (SEAO) economies are world innovation leaders, namely Singapore (5 th ), the Republic of Korea (10 th ), China (12 th ), Japan (13 th ), Hong Kong, China (17 th ) and Australia (24 th ).

Eight economies within the SEAO region improve their rankings this year, with Indonesia (61 st , up from 75 th ) making the greatest advance. Indonesia excels in ICT-related indicators and ranks among the top 10 globally for university-industry R&D collaboration (5), state of cluster development (5), entrepreneurship policies and culture (5) and finance for startups and scaleups (8). Indonesia has made marked improvements in innovation outputs, notably in knowledge creation and online creativity.

Mongolia (68 th ), Brunei Darussalam (87 th ) and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (110 th ) also move up the rankings. 

Central and Southern Asia

In Central and Southern Asia, India (40 th ) is the best-ranked innovation economy in this region. The Islamic Republic of Iran (62 nd ), Kazakhstan (81 st , and a newcomer in the regional top three), and Uzbekistan (82 nd ) get close to the top 80.

India maintains its 40 th position overall and takes the helm in the lower middle-income group. It holds the record for overperforming on innovation for the 13 th consecutive year. India holds top rankings in key indicators including ICT services exports (at place 5), VC received (6), graduates in science and engineering (11) and global corporate R&D investors (13).

The Islamic Republic of Iran secures the 2 nd position within the region. It claims the top spot globally in trademarks (at first place), performs well in intangible assets (13), and is in the top 15 worldwide in graduates in science and engineering (3), market capitalization (5) and industrial designs (11).

Kazakhstan emerges as a newcomer in the regional top three and is one of only two economies that go up the rankings in the region, together with Nepal (108 th ). Pakistan and Uzbekistan overperform on innovation for the second consecutive year, while Pakistan also positions itself among the economies that have shown the most significant ascent in the GII over the past four years.

Northern Africa and Western Asia

Israel (14 th ), Cyprus (28 th ), the United Arab Emirates (32 nd ) and Türkiye lead in the innovation rankings for this region.

Israel gained two ranks. It leads the world in nine innovation indicators, including R&D expenditure, university-industry R&D collaboration, the cumulative value of its unicorn companies, WIPO Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent applications and ICT services exports.

The United Arab Emirates stabilizes close to the top 30 and ranks in the top five for its entrepreneurship policies and culture, policies for doing business, the number of researchers in businesses, and R&D financed by the private sector. Türkiye remains firmly placed among the group of middle-income economies within the GII top 65, and has climbed fastest in the ranks over the last decade. It ranks in the top five for its industry diversification, and excels notably in intangible assets, industrial designs and trademark filings.  

Joining the top 50 ranks are Saudi Arabia (48 th ) and Qatar (50 th ). Saudi Arabia performs well in ICT access (7), ICT use (10) and policies for doing business (16). Additionally, it excels in global corporate R&D investors (16) and global brand value (18).

The economies of Bahrain (67 th ), Oman (69 th ), Jordan (71 st ) and Egypt (86 th ) also experience significant improvements in their innovation rankings. Bahrain and Oman both enter the top 70, while Oman secures a spot among the top 10 worldwide in graduates in science and engineering (2) and government funding per pupil (9).

Georgia (65 th ) and Armenia (72 nd ) also make notable improvements. 

Latin America and the Caribbean

In Latin America and the Caribbean, Brazil breaks into the top 50 economies in 2023. Following a steady ascent in recent years, it surpasses Chile (52 nd ) for the first time, securing its position as the most innovative economy in the region. Mexico (58 th ) follows, holding the third regional position.

Brazil climbs up five ranks this year, firmly establishing itself among the group of economies that have shown the most remarkable improvement in the GII over the past four years. Brazil excels in indicators including government’s online service (at place 14) and e-participation (11), both in the top 15 worldwide; the valuation of its 16 unicorn companies (22), representing 1.9 percent of its GDP in 2023; and intangible assets (31), ranking well worldwide for its trademarks (13), and its global brands value (39).

Jamaica (78 th ) also overperforms on innovation for its level of development.

In addition to Brazil , Uruguay (63 rd ) and El Salvador (95 th ) are the only other countries in the region that have improved their positions this year. Uruguay takes the lead in the top 10 for policies for doing business (4), ICT services imports (5), exports (7), and operational stability for businesses (10). El Salvador stands out with notable rankings in firms offering formal training (15) and trademarks (20).

Sub-Saharan Africa

In Sub-Saharan Africa, Mauritius (57 th ) leads the region, followed by South Africa (59 th ) making a stride by entering the top 60. Botswana (85 th ), Cabo Verde (91 st ) and Senegal (93 rd ) follow. Nine economies in the region improve their innovation rankings. South Africa , Senegal , Rwanda (103 rd , and leading the low-income group), Nigeria (109 th ), Togo (114 th ) and Mauritania (127 th ) are among the economies that have shown notable progress.

Mauritius leads worldwide in amount of relative VC invested (at place 1) and secures a spot among the top five in VC received (5). South Africa leads the region in knowledge and technology outputs, thanks to its good performance in software spending (28), patents by origin (34), PCT patent applications (40) and valuation of its unicorn companies (37). Botswana leads in business sophistication and performs well in loans from microfinance institutions (12).

Senegal takes the lead for the valuation of its unicorns and it performs well in gross capital formation (8), loans from microfinance institutions (10), FDI inflows (13) and VC received (19).

Rwanda , Madagascar (107 th ), South Africa , Senegal and Burundi (130 th ) stand out for overperforming on innovation relative to their level of economic development, with Rwanda excelling for 11 years.

About the Global Innovation Index

The Global Innovation Index 2023 (GII), in its 16 th edition this year, is published by WIPO in partnership with the Portulans Institute , which is supported by its Corporate and Academic Network partners. The GII Advisory Board provides important guidance .

Since its inception in 2007, the GII has shaped the innovation measurement agenda and become a cornerstone of economic policymaking, with an increasing number of governments systematically analyzing their annual GII results and designing policy responses to improve their performance.

Published annually, the core of the GII provides performance measures and ranks some 130-plus economies on their innovation ecosystems. The Index is built on a rich dataset – the collection of 80 indicators from international public and private sources – going beyond the traditional measures of innovation since the definition of innovation has broadened.

The GII 2023 is calculated as the average of two sub-indices. The Innovation Input Sub-Index gauges elements of the economy that enable and facilitate innovative activities and is grouped into five pillars: (1) Institutions, (2) Human capital and research, (3) Infrastructure, (4) Market sophistication, and (5) Business sophistication (see Framework). The Innovation Output Sub-Index captures the actual result of innovative activities within the economy and is divided in two pillars: (6) Knowledge and technology outputs and (7) Creative outputs.

For each economy, an innovation brief is available, in which that economy’s performance on all indicators is recorded. The briefs – now available in an interactive fashion online as well – highlights an economy’s relative innovation strengths and weaknesses.

The index is submitted to an independent statistical audit by the Competence Centre on Composite Indicators and Scoreboards (COIN) from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre.

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