India Selected to Host WTTC Global Summit 2027, the World’s Most Important Tourism Event
India beat 21 other destinations to host the 2027 WTTC Global Summit in Delhi, as WTTC forecasts the country's travel and tourism economy will nearly double to $527 billion by 2036.
Photo by WTTC
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 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 22 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.
We are delighted to bring the world’s most important Travel & Tourism event to India in 2027, chosen from among 22 destinations. Delhi will provide the perfect stage for global leaders to come together, drive collaboration, and continue shaping the future of the sector.
Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, Chairman, WTTC
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.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC
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.
About WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to maximising the inclusive and sustainable growth potential of the Travel & Tourism sector by partnering with governments, destinations, communities, and other stakeholders to drive economic development, create jobs, reduce poverty and foster peace, security, and understanding in our world.