WTTC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Travel and Tourism Council India Initiative (WTTCII) on Tuesday in New Delhi (Photos: India Outbound/Garima Sharma)
The heady growth in Indian travel and tourism sector is likely to continue strongly in the current year as well, says a report published by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
In 2024, international visitor spending in India reached a record INR 3.1 trillion, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 9 pc, while the domestic travel spending soared to INR 15.5 trillion, up 22 pc from 2019, underscoring the resilience and importance of the domestic market, says the Economic Impact Report released by WTTC in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The report says that collectively, these figures propelled the sector’s contribution to the Indian economy to nearly INR 21 trillion, accounting for 6.6 pc of national GDP and supporting over 46 million jobs, more than 9 pc of total employment in India.
Julia Simpson
“It is really wonderful that the WTTC is here in India. I am delighted to reaffirm our commitment to the Indian travel market. We have just signed an agreement with the World Travel and Tourism Council India initiative to strengthen the bonds that we have between the private sector here in India and globally. Travel and tourism to India and out of India is booming globally. I have to say I am amazed at what I am seeing here now. We are opening up new destinations in India almost every day. We are opening new airports, better infrastructure. So hats off to India,” Julia Simpson, President and CEO, WTTC, tells India Outbound.
In her address, Simpson highlighted that in 2025, the sector’s economic contribution will exceed INR 22 trillion, with employment rising to over 48 million. Over the next decade, travel and tourism’s share of the national economy is expected to nearly double, reaching just under INR 42 trillion and supporting 64 million jobs.
Simpson also discussed the importance of continued investment, infrastructure development and policy support to sustain this momentum, referencing India’s ambitious plans to expand its airport network and digitalise travel processes.
Earlier, the WTTC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Travel and Tourism Council India Initiative (WTTCII), further cementing the collaborative relationship between the two organisations.
In her address, Simpson emphasised WTTC’s global reach, representing 200 CEOs and advocating for the transformative power of travel and tourism, supported by three decades of research with Oxford Economics.
Jyotsna Suri
“Today’s MOU signing is not just about outbound, it is also about inbound tourism. WTTCII, extension of WTTC. We have been associated with each other for the last 25 years. WTTC itself is 35 years old now. We collaborate together and we work together for the promotion of tourism across the world. The initiative is focussed on India. However, we stay relevant because we stay globally relevant with our interactions with WTTC,” Jyotsna Suri, Vice Chairperson, WTTCII and Chairperson and Managing Director, Lalit Hotels, tells India Outbound.
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