Pakistan Ranks Among the Lowest in WEF Travel and Tourism Rankings for 2024
Pakistan ranks 101st out of 119 countries in the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) released by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Within Southeast Asia, Pakistan fares better than Nepal (105) and Bangladesh (109) but trails behind India (39) and Sri Lanka (76).
The TTDI is part of WEF’s broader initiative to promote a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future for economies and communities by engaging with industry and government stakeholders. Pakistan, classified as a lower-middle-income economy, belongs to the Asia-Pacific regional group.
In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates tops the list at 18th place, followed by Saudi Arabia (41), Qatar (53), and Bahrain (81). Globally, the United States leads, followed by Spain, Japan, and France. The top ten also include Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Italy, and Switzerland. The top 30 countries represent over 75% of the travel and tourism industry GDP in 2022 and 70% of GDP growth between 2020 and 2022, while the lower half mainly consists of African nations.
Top-ranked countries in the TTDI are recognized for their favorable business environments, liberal travel policies, robust transportation infrastructure, and diverse natural, cultural, and non-leisure attractions.
Developed in collaboration with the University of Surrey and contributions from leading travel and tourism stakeholders, thought leaders, and data partners, the TTDI evaluates various factors and policies essential for the sustainable and resilient development of travel and tourism. The latest report shows the global travel and tourism sector recovering from the lows of the COVID-19 pandemic, with some regions surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Despite this positive trend, the WEF report highlights ongoing challenges in the industry, including global inflation, conflicts, and environmental issues such as wildfires in tourist areas.
The report foresees that geopolitical tensions, macroeconomic uncertainties, and potential challenges from artificial intelligence could further impact the travel and tourism industry in the coming years. While developing economies like Pakistan have shown improvements in TTDI scores, significant investment is still needed to enhance tourism conditions.
