India ranks 7
th in tourism economy in terms of GDP according to the WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council).
According to data, the travel and tourism sector generated INR 14.1 trillion (USD208.9 billion) in 2016.
This makes it the world’s 7
th largest in terms of absolute size; the sum is equivalent to 9.6% of India’s GDP.
Additionally, the sector created 40.3 million jobs in 2016, which ranks India 2nd in the world in terms of total employment generated.
The sector accounts for 9.3% of the country’s total jobs.
India’s Travel and Tourism sector was also the fastest growing amongst the G20 countries, growing by 8.5% in 2016.
A further 6.7% growth is forecast for 2017.
India’s figures are predominantly generated by domestic travel, which accounts for 88% of the sector’s contribution to GDP in 2016.
Visitor exports, money spent by foreign travellers in India, only represents 12% of tourism revenues and in 2016 totalled Rs 1.5 trillion (USD22.8bn).
This is 5.4% of the country’s total exports, compared to a global average of 6.6%.
Data from the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) shows that India received only 9 million international arrivals in 2016, placing it at 40th place in the world; a tenth of those received by top-ranking France.
However, there is a lot of potential for India to grow their visitor exports.
WTTC data suggests that visitor exports will grow by 5.4% in 2017.
WTTC: Know More - Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Founded: 1990
- Industry: Travel & Tourism
- Chairman: Gerald Lawless
