The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today announced that India will host the WTTC Global Summit in 2027, bringing the world’s leading Travel & Tourism CEOs and government leaders to New Delhi as the country’s tourism sector enters a new era of growth and global opportunity, supported by one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing domestic travel markets.
As the sector’s most important global event, the WTTC Global Summit attracts the highest level of public and private sector participation from across the world. India was selected following a highly competitive process involving 21 destinations that expressed interest in hosting the event.
The 2027 Summit will provide a global platform to showcase India’s extraordinary tourism offering, the strength of its domestic visitor economy, and its growing appeal to international travellers, while bringing together the public and private sectors to address the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of Travel & Tourism.
The announcement comes during the WTTC Global Summit in Malta, where H.E. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Government of India, participated in discussions on the future of the sector and has been recognised with a WTTC Global Champion Award for his leadership and contribution to Travel & Tourism.
India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing Travel & Tourism economies. According to WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research, the sector contributed US$263.6 billion to India’s economy in 2025, growing by 7.3% and supporting 46.2 million jobs – more than one in every ten jobs in the country.
The momentum is expected to continue. WTTC forecasts that Travel & Tourism’s contribution to India’s economy will grow by 8.5% in 2026, reaching US$286.1 billion, while supporting 48.1 million jobs. Over the next decade, the sector is projected to almost double in economic size, reaching US$527 billion by 2036.
India’s enormous domestic tourism market provides a powerful foundation for this growth. Domestic visitor spending reached US$203 billion in 2025, accounting for 86% of total Travel & Tourism spending, while international visitor spending represents a significant opportunity for further expansion.
WTTC’s research projects that India will move from being the world’s 10th-largest Travel & Tourism economy to fourth by 2036, underlining the scale of the opportunity ahead. International visitor spending is also forecast to grow significantly over the coming decade, highlighting the potential for India to capture a greater share of global tourism demand.
The country’s scale, diverse tourism offering and expanding infrastructure are creating opportunities across leisure, business travel, hospitality, aviation, technology, investment and destination development. The 2027 Summit will provide a unique opportunity for international businesses and investors to engage directly with India and explore partnerships across its rapidly developing tourism ecosystem.
Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Chairman, WTTC, said: “We are delighted to bring the world’s most important Travel & Tourism event to India in 2027, chosen from among 21 destinations. New Delhi will provide the perfect stage for global leaders to come together, drive collaboration, and continue shaping the future of the sector.”
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said: “India is a country with extraordinary tourism potential and a sector that is already delivering remarkable economic growth. Its scale, ambition and growing global connectivity make it a natural place to bring the world’s Travel & Tourism leaders together.
“This will be an opportunity to showcase the country to our global membership, strengthen public-private partnerships and look at how India can capture even more of the international demand that is driving the next chapter of global Travel & Tourism.”
The decision to bring the Global Summit to India follows a period of significant expansion for the country’s Travel & Tourism sector and reflects WTTC’s commitment to bringing its flagship event to markets that are helping shape the future of the industry.
India has already demonstrated the strength of its domestic tourism market, while the next phase of growth will increasingly focus on expanding its international visitor economy. WTTC’s research highlights the opportunity to build on India’s strong domestic foundation and attract a greater share of international visitor spending.
The announcement also reinforces the importance of strong collaboration between governments and the private sector. WTTC’s Global Summit brings together the leaders responsible for investment, infrastructure, connectivity, hospitality, aviation, technology and destination development, creating a unique environment for new partnerships and investment opportunities.
