According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI), Pakistan is ranked 101st out of 119 countries. Pakistan is ranked significantly below India (39) and Sri Lanka (76) in South-East Asia, but somewhat above Bangladesh (109) and Nepal (105).
The TTDI is a component of the WEF’s larger efforts to create a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future for local communities and economies through collaboration with business and governmental stakeholders. Pakistan belongs to the Asia-Pacific region and is categorized as having a lower-middle-income economy.
The United Arab Emirates came in first place in the Middle East with a ranking of 18, followed by Saudi Arabia (41), Qatar (53), and Bahrain (18). In order of total ranking, the United States was first, followed by Spain, Japan, and France. Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Italy, and Switzerland made up the remaining ten spots on the list. The study states that the top 30 nations in the TTDI accounted for 70% of GDP growth between 2020 and 2022 and more than 75% of the GDP of the travel and tourism sector in 2022. The nations of Africa were in the lowest part of the list.
The top-ranking nations in the TTDI rankings are known for their welcoming business climates, liberal travel laws, advanced transportation networks, and abundance of non-leisure, cultural, and natural attractions.
The TTDI assesses the set of characteristics and policies that enable the sustainable and resilient development of travel and tourism. It was developed in partnership with the University of Surrey, with input from prominent travel and tourism stakeholder organizations, thought leaders, and data partners. According to the most recent data, the travel and tourism industry worldwide is beginning to rise above the pre-pandemic levels and is even beginning to surpass the Covid-19 lows.
The WEF report did, however, emphasize the difficulties the industry is facing in spite of the upward trajectory. Further pressure has been brought on by global inflation, international conflict, and environmental problems like wildfires in popular tourist areas. According to the paper, the travel and tourism sector is expected to experience significant problems in the future due to artificial intelligence, financial instability, and geopolitical conflicts. Even while TTDI scores have improved in developing nations like Pakistan, many regions still require investment to create favorable tourism circumstances.
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