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Date: 9 October 2026
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has presented H.E. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Tourism of India, with its Global Champion Award, recognising his leadership in supporting the growth, competitiveness and long-term development of India’s Travel & Tourism sector.
The award was presented during WTTC’s 26th Global Summit in Malta, bringing together more than 1,000 delegates, including over 200 of the world’s leading Travel & Tourism CEOs and government leaders.
The WTTC Global Champion Award recognises public leaders whose policies and initiatives have supported the growth, competitiveness and global visibility of Travel & Tourism, while championing collaboration with the private sector.
India has emerged as one of the world’s most dynamic Travel & Tourism markets, driven by rapid economic growth, rising consumer spending, infrastructure investment and an expanding middle class.
WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research shows Travel & Tourism generated US$263.6 billion for India’s economy in 2025, supporting 46.2 million jobs across the country. The sector is forecast to grow by a further 8.5% in 2026, reaching US$286.1 billion and supporting 48.1 million jobs.
At the heart of this success is India’s extraordinary domestic tourism market. WTTC research shows domestic visitor spending reached US$203 billion in 2025, accounting for 86% of all Travel & Tourism spending in the country. India also recorded more than six billion domestic trips, highlighting the scale and resilience of the market and its role as a powerful engine of growth for the wider tourism economy.
This strong domestic foundation, combined with growing international demand and continued investment, is helping position India as one of the most significant Travel & Tourism growth stories anywhere in the world.
With Travel & Tourism's contribution to India's economy forecast to almost double over the next decade, reaching US$527 billion by 2036, continued collaboration between government and the private sector will be critical to unlocking the sector's full potential.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said: "India is one of the most exciting Travel & Tourism stories in the world today. Its remarkable growth is being fuelled not only by increasing international demand, but by the extraordinary strength of its domestic market, which now generates more than six billion trips every year."
"Minister Shekhawat has been a strong advocate for the sector and for the public-private collaboration needed to support its continued expansion. As India's economy continues to grow at pace, Travel & Tourism is playing an increasingly important role in creating jobs, attracting investment and delivering opportunities for communities across the country. This award recognises his commitment to ensuring the sector remains a driver of economic growth and prosperity, while helping position India as one of the world's leading tourism economies."
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About the World Travel & Tourism Council
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is the global body representing the private sector of Travel & Tourism and the leading authority on the sector’s economic and social contribution worldwide. Its members include Chairmen, Presidents and CEOs of the world’s leading travel and tourism companies across hotels, airlines, airports, cruise lines, tour operators, technology platforms and destinations, spanning every major region globally.
WTTC works to advance sustainable growth across the Travel & Tourism sector by driving collaboration between industry leaders and governments, shaping global policy, and providing authoritative research on the sector’s economic impact worldwide.