WTTC puts India's travel economy at $527 billion by 2036
The World Travel & Tourism Council projects India's Travel & Tourism sector will almost double in economic size over the next decade. The council puts the 2036 figure at US$527 billion. Its release carries the date 9 October 2026.
The same release announces India as the host of the WTTC Global Summit in 2027. Delhi is the host city.
India wins the 2027 summit
WTTC states India was selected through a competitive process involving 22 destinations that expressed interest in hosting the event. Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, chairman of the council, says the event was "chosen from among 22 destinations" in the council's own copy.
Trade republications of the same wire carry the count as 21 destinations in the body text and in the quote. TradeArabia and TTN Worldwide publish the 21 figure.
The 2025 base
WTTC's Economic Impact Research puts the sector's contribution to India's economy at US$263.6 billion in 2025. The contribution grew 7.3 per cent over the year and supported 46.2 million jobs. WTTC states that total is more than one in every ten jobs in the country.
8.5 per cent growth forecast for 2026
WTTC forecasts the contribution will grow 8.5 per cent in 2026 and reach US$286.1 billion. Employment is forecast at 48.1 million jobs.
The council projects India's rank on economic size will move from 10th worldwide to fourth by 2036.
Domestic spending carries 86 per cent of the market
Domestic visitor spending reached US$203 billion in 2025. That equals 86 per cent of total Travel & Tourism spending in India, and international visitor spending supplies the remaining share.
WTTC calls international visitor spending a significant opportunity for expansion. The release states that spending is forecast to grow significantly over the coming decade.
The summit brings the council's membership to Delhi
WTTC describes the Global Summit as the sector's most important global event. The release states the event attracts the highest level of public and private sector participation from across the world.
The 2027 programme will give international businesses and investors direct engagement with India, per the release. WTTC names hospitality among the sectors in India's tourism ecosystem. Aviation, technology, business travel, infrastructure, investment and destination development sit in the same list.
The participant set the summit convenes
The release states the council's Global Summit gathers the leaders responsible for investment, infrastructure, connectivity, hospitality, aviation, technology and destination development. WTTC describes itself in the same release as the global body representing the private sector of Travel & Tourism. Its members are chairmen, presidents and chief executives of travel and tourism companies across hotels, airlines, airports, cruise lines, tour operators, technology platforms and destinations.
WTTC states the decision to bring the summit to India follows a period of significant expansion for the country's sector. The release states the next phase of growth will focus increasingly on expanding India's international visitor economy.
The Malta announcement
WTTC announced the 2027 host during its Global Summit in Malta. H.E. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, participated in discussions on the sector's future at that event. WTTC recognised him with a Global Champion Award for his leadership and contribution to Travel & Tourism.
The release gives the year 2027 and the city for the next summit. It carries no dates and no edition number for the Delhi event.
The council's own words
Lefebvre d'Ovidio said Delhi will provide the stage for global leaders to come together, drive collaboration and continue shaping the future of the sector.
Gloria Guevara, president and chief executive of WTTC, said India has extraordinary tourism potential and a sector already delivering remarkable economic growth. She said India's scale, ambition and growing global connectivity make it a natural place to bring the world's travel leaders together. She said the summit will showcase the country to the council's global membership and strengthen public-private partnerships.
The release states India's scale, tourism offering and expanding infrastructure create opportunities across leisure, business travel, hospitality, aviation, technology, investment and destination development.
The Day-Use Lines the Release Does Not Carry
The release carries no day-use line. It states no hourly rate, no daytime window and no part-day inventory figure for the Indian market. The $527 billion projection, the 46.2 million jobs and the 86 per cent domestic share are national aggregates.
India's Day-Use Shelf
Dayuse.com publishes its city list in a sitemap. That file carried 10,973 city entries across 44 country paths on 15 October 2026, and its hotels sitemap carried 11,877 property pages across 30 country paths. No India path appears in either file.
The platform listed no Indian day-use hotel on that date. A daytime operator reading the forecast starts from national aggregates.