The latest Global Travel Development Index rankings, which look into travel and tourism patterns biennially, put Japan at the top of the charts. India came in at number 54 and remained on the top within South Asia, with reports indicating that the country has shown signs of recovery post the lockdown. By Eshita Srinivas
The World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index for 2021 looked into all the factors and policies that enable sustainable, resilient development of the travel and tourism sectors of 117 different countries and enable their development. The results put Japan at the top, followed by the US, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, UK, Singapore, and Italy. Other than the US, all of these countries are high-income economies in Europe or Asia-Pacific. India came in at number 54, remaining at the top within South Asia.
Global Travel Development Index indicates signs of recovery in India’s travel and tourism sector
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A news report by The Print stated that according to the latest study by the World Economic Forum (WEF), post two years of slowdown due to the pandemic, India’s travel and tourism sector has shown signs of recovery. Similar trends were noted by the WEF’s study which also stressed that several challenges remain.
Lauren Uppinik, Head of Aviation, Travel and Tourism at the World Economic Forum was quoted by NDTV as saying, “COVID-19 shutdowns have re-emphasised the important contribution travel and tourism makes to many economies around the world.” She further added, “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.”
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A news report by the Free Press Journal observed that international tourism, business travel included, continues to be below pre-pandemic levels although recovery seems promising due to greater vaccination rates, higher rates of open travel, and an uptick in the demand for local, nature-based tourism.
Estimates further suggest that the tourist arrivals between January 2021 and January 2022 stand at 18 million (1.8 crores), which is higher than the arrivals growth in all of 2021. In part, this could be attributed to the fact that businesses and destinations have adapted to these changes and demands. Uppinik noted that decision-makers will also need to restore international openness and consumer confidence in the coming years by looking into enhanced health and security measures, encouraging inclusive labour practices, improving environmental sustainability, and investing in digital technology.
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