New WTTC data highlights India’s rise as a top-performing Travel & Tourism economy, fueled by robust domestic demand. The sector marks its status as one of the world’s fastest-growing markets, per the World Travel & Tourism Council.
Travel & Tourism grew by 7.3% in 2025, exceeding the worldwide average of 4.1%. This sector is a major driver of India’s economic expansion.
India boasts one of the world’s strongest domestic tourism markets, with visitor spending hitting €203 billion in 2025. This accounts for 86% of total tourism expenditure and saw a year-on-year rise of over 10%.
Such robust domestic performance lays a strong groundwork for future expansion. Since international spending makes up roughly 14% of the total, there is a clear chance for India to capture a larger portion of the expanding global travel market.
The sector contributes 6.6% to India’s GDP and creates over one in ten jobs. WTTC predicts the industry will keep outpacing the general economy in 2026, with a projected GDP growth of 8.5%.
Travel & Tourism GDP is expected to grow to $286.1 billion, supporting 48.1 million jobs. India’s Travel & Tourism sector is projected to almost double in size over the next decade, reaching $527 billion by 2036.
International visitor spending is expected to surge by nearly 60% in the next ten years, showing the country’s huge potential to draw high-value foreign tourists. This potential is bolstered by the fact that international visitors spend an average of 18.5 days in India.
This average duration of stay is among the longest globally, indicating the depth, variety, and richness of the tourism product. The WTTC states that the domestic market will stay the base of future success, and by using targeted strategies to stimulate international demand, the country can boost its global competitiveness and economic influence.