R. Suryamurthy
India’s travel and tourism industry is entering a phase of unprecedented growth, powered by strong domestic demand and a significant revival in international arrivals. According to the latest Economic Impact Research (EIR) by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the sector is expected to contribute nearly ₹42 trillion to the Indian economy by 2035 and support close to 64 million jobs.
The backbone of this surge is India’s domestic tourism. In 2024, domestic spending hit ₹15.5 trillion — 22% above 2019 levels — and is projected to rise to ₹16.8 trillion in 2025. By 2035, this figure could double to ₹32.7 trillion, highlighting the crucial role of Indian travelers in driving sectoral growth.
Simultaneously, international tourism has bounced back robustly. India saw 20 million foreign visitors in 2024, 2.3 million more than in 2019. International spending reached ₹3.1 trillion last year and is expected to climb to ₹3.2 trillion in 2025, pushing the country further up the global tourism rankings.
The sector’s total economic contribution in 2025 is projected to surpass ₹22 trillion, supporting over 48 million jobs. Business travel alone accounted for ₹1.1 trillion in 2024, exceeding its pre-pandemic peak.
WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson hailed India’s recovery as “unprecedented” and emphasized the need for streamlined visa procedures and infrastructure development. She also urged the government to reconsider recent cuts to overseas tourism promotion, calling for consistent policy support to unlock the sector’s full potential.
A new MoU between WTTC and WTTC India Initiative (WTTCII) aims to strengthen global-local policy coordination and ensure long-term, inclusive tourism growth.
As India embraces this new era, travel and tourism are poised to play a defining role in job creation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic expansion.