India to Host 2027 WTTC Global Summit in New Delhi
India has been selected to host the 2027 WTTC Global Summit in New Delhi, a major industry event that will highlight the country's rapidly growing travel and tourism sector, which contributed $263.6 billion to the economy in 2025.
India will host the 2027 WTTC Global Summit in New Delhi. The selection followed a competitive process involving 21 other destinations. The summit is positioned to show India's leadership in global tourism and provide a stage for international collaboration.
The announcement was made at the WTTC Global Summit in Malta. There, India's Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, H.E. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, received a WTTC Global Champion Award. WTTC Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio stated that New Delhi would provide the perfect stage for global leaders to come together and shape the sector's future. WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara highlighted India's extraordinary tourism potential, scale, and ambition, noting the summit would strengthen public-private partnerships.
Sector growth and economic impact
India's travel and tourism sector contributed $263.6 billion to its economy in 2025. That represented a growth of 7.3% over the previous year. The sector supported 46.2 million jobs that same year.
WTTC forecasts further strong growth for 2026. The sector's economic contribution is projected to increase by 8.5%, reaching $286.1 billion. It is also forecast to support 48.1 million jobs.
Domestic spending is the dominant force. In 2025, domestic visitor spending reached $203 billion. That accounted for 86% of total travel and tourism expenditure in the country.
The long-term projections are even more significant. Over the next decade, the sector is projected to reach $527 billion by 2036. India is expected to move from being the world's tenth-largest travel and tourism economy to the fourth largest by that year. International visitor spending is also projected to grow substantially over the coming decade.
Investment and development opportunities
The 2027 summit is seen as a key platform for engagement. It will create opportunities for international businesses and investors to connect with India's expanding tourism ecosystem. This comes amid the strong growth in both domestic and international spending.
The event will allow India to present its development landscape to a global audience of industry leaders. The focus will be on capturing more international demand and driving the next chapter of global travel and tourism growth. The summit will serve as a major conduit for investment and partnership in one of the world's fastest-growing tourism markets.
