WTTCII and Hotelivate releases 7th edition of India State Ranking Survey, recognises top-performing states in tourism industry

The World Travel andTourism Council India Initiative (WTTCII) and Hotelivate, India’s most innovative hospitality consulting and services organisation, are pleased to announce the release of the seventh edition of the IndiaState Ranking Survey. The State Ranking Survey is a biennial publication except for 2021. The Publication aims at analysing the state-wise potential of Travel and Tourism in India and assessing the relative competitiveness of different states in the country.

The official release of the 2024 India State Ranking Survey took place on Tuesday, 12 March at The Lalit New Delhi. On the occasion of the launch, and based on the findings of the 2024 report, WTTCII and Hotelivate also hosted an Award Ceremony to felicitate the best-performing states.

The award ceremony was instituted to acknowledge and recognise the initiatives taken by the different Indian states in policy impetus and prioritisation of Travel and Tourism – a key contributor to economic growth and a catalyst for the overall development of the nation. The ‘WTTCII-Hotelivate State Ranking Survey 2024 Awards’ serves to encourage state governments and administrations to take the lead in India’s quest for excellence in Tourism.

This year, the Awards were announced under the following sixcategories:

The Ceremony was Graced by Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, and former CEO of the NITI Aayog and the Manisha Saxena, DG Tourism, Government of India.

Kant emphasized the significance of tourism as a driver for economic expansion and employment generation nationwide. He highlighted the ranking provided by the survey and consequent competitiveness among states as a crucial factor propelling progress and change in the Travel & tourism industry. Mr. Kant conveyed his positive outlook for the future growth of the tourism sector, with a particular focus on the potential of the youth and workforce in the country.

Saxena, expressed optimism regarding the future of the tourism sector. She underscored the crucial role of collaboration between state and central governments in advancing the industry. Additionally, Saxena highlighted central initiatives like the ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ and ‘Chalo India’ campaigns aimed at fostering growth within the tourism sector.

“Since its inception in 2009 the aim of the State Ranking Survey was to create and implement a comprehensive analytical framework to identify scope for improvement within the Travel and Tourism Sector and spotlight the efforts of the state governments in India. The survey is an effort to facilitate positive change in tourism policies and catalyse a more supportive stance from state governments towards the industry. It is heartening to note that numerous Indian states have embraced constructive measures and demonstrated commendable progress, as evidenced by the latest rankings and we hope that this positive trajectory continues in the future.” says Manav Thadani, Founder Chairman – Hotelivate.

Deep Kalra, Chairman, WTTCII said, “WTTCII is unwavering in its commitment to shaping innovative policies and nurturing dialogues within India’s vibrant tourism sector. Collaborating closely with State Governments is of paramount importance to us, recognizing their pivotal role in the success of the Incredible India brand. We extend a cordial invitation to State Governments for strategic partnerships, leveraging our conglomerate Membership expertise to provide invaluable guidance towards achieving excellence in the realm of travel and tourism. The India State Ranking Survey, conducted jointly by Hotelivate in collaboration with WTTCII, meticulously evaluates the landscape of travel and tourism across all States. Through the assessment of GSDP, tourist footfalls, connectivity, marketing strategies, and environmental sustainability, the survey sheds light on the individual performance of the States underlining the strong economic potential of travel & tourism. It aspires not only to gauge competitiveness but also to commend and endorse progressive policy initiatives while encouraging dynamic collaborations between the private and public sectors. The award ceremony honouring top-performing States serves as a distinguished recognition from the private sector for their excellence in travel & tourism. Sustainability would be a key focus for States in the future and with our parent body WTTC and our partnership with GSTC India Working Group we will push the cause with them. Sustainability will be a critical focus for States moving forward. With our parent body WTTC and strategic alliance with the GSTC India Working Group, we’re prepared to passionately support and guide States in this

Dr Jyostna Suri, Vice Chairperson, WTTCII, said, “We extend our deepest appreciation to the support we received from the Central, State Governments and Industry at the State Ranking Survey launch. Our unwavering commitment is to foster States excelling in tourism, recognizing their infrastructure, policies and practices.  WTTCII, in collaboration with all stakeholders, aspires to position these captivating destinations prominently on the global tourism map We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Manav Thadani, Founder Chairman of Hotelivate, and his exceptional team for their dedicated efforts in compiling this insightful biennial report. We express our sincere appreciation to the Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Manisha Saxena, for her gracious presence, and eagerly anticipate continued coordination with the Ministry of Tourism to achieve collective victories for our sector. It was an honour to have Amitabh Kant, Sherpa, G20 India as the Chief Guest, which reflects an enduring confidence he reposed in WTTCII spanning over 23 years. Mr. Kant has offered invaluable insights that we are committed to integrating into our future initiatives. States must recognize the substantial impact of the travel and tourism sector on job creation and employment opportunities to drive inclusive economic growth.”

The study takes into account 28 states and 2 Union Territories. Table 1 outlines the sample set of states and Union Territories covered in this survey. It must be noted that in addition to the 12 parameters used in the last survey, we have included Cleanliness and Smart City Initiatives as new parameters this year. All parameters have been assigned a specific weightage commensurate to their individual impact on the hospitality industry (Table 2).

Table 1:

Table 2:

India’s diversity, cultural richness, and robust economy, driven by a sizable youth population, make it an appealing destination for both domestic and international strategic investments. India ranks 9th out of all G20 countries, signalling that although the travel and tourism sector is well established, ongoing developments in policy, tourist infrastructure, safety, health, technology adaptation, and environmental sustainability continue to hold potential for improvement.

Furthermore, as this report identifies the best performing states on various parameters, it could certainly serve to inspire other counterparts to experiment with their policy decisions and implement solutions.