The World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) has found that travel and tourism development conditions have strengthened across most economies. According to the 10th edition of the TTDI, launched at Beyond Tourism Day in Geneva, 101 of 110 ranked economies improved their scores between 2024 and 2026, with an average rise of 2.1%. This is the fastest pace of improvement since 2019. The TTDI was developed in collaboration with Zurich Insurance Group.
Japan has taken the top position in the TTDI, followed by the United States, Spain, Australia, and France. Advanced economies hold nine of the top 10 spots in the Index. The largest emerging tourism economies have improved their scores more than twice as fast as the top 20 economies since 2019. This is a significant development, as emerging economies continue to gain ground in the tourism sector.
The TTDI also highlights the challenges facing the tourism industry. Between 2024 and 2026, travel became less affordable in three out of four economies, while tourism investment failed to keep pace with rising demand. Labour shortages also threatened further growth in the sector. Furthermore, benefits for local communities weakened during this period, indicating that more visitors do not automatically translate into better livelihoods or higher quality jobs.
Despite these challenges, emerging tourism economies are making significant gains. Since 2019, the largest emerging economies have improved their TTDI scores more than twice as fast as the top 20 economies. Asia-Pacific economies account for seven of the 10 fastest-improving performers. Albania recorded the largest overall gain between 2024 and 2026, demonstrating the potential for emerging economies to drive growth in the tourism sector.
Ramya Krishnaswamy, Head of Experience Economy and Cities at the World Economic Forum, emphasized that the next chapter for tourism is not simply about attracting more visitors, but about creating greater value by investing in people, infrastructure, and stronger public-private collaboration. This will enable tourism to deliver lasting benefits for communities, businesses, and destinations.
The TTDI will be launched at Beyond Tourism Day in Geneva, bringing together senior leaders from business, government, and civil society under the theme: ‘Resilient Growth. Renewed Impact’. Cara Morton, CEO Global Businesses and Operations at Zurich Insurance Group, highlighted the importance of resilience in the tourism sector, emphasizing that business and governments must take responsibility together to maintain the value of tourism.
The World Economic Forum's TTDI provides a comprehensive assessment of the travel and tourism sector, highlighting areas of improvement and opportunities for growth. As the sector continues to evolve, the TTDI will remain a valuable resource for stakeholders seeking to promote sustainable and responsible tourism practices.
Key points
- 92% of 110 economies improved their TTDI scores since 2024.
- Japan leads the TTDI, followed by the United States, Spain, Australia, and France.
- Emerging tourism economies have improved their TTDI scores more than twice as fast as the top 20 economies since 2019.
