Wednesday, 13 March 2024, New Delhi: The World Travel and Tourism 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 India State 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 six categories:

1. Northeastern Destination Leadership Award 2024- The Northeastern State with the overall best performance in the region based on 14 key parameters. The Government of Sikkim was recognized under this category.

2. Northeastern Destination Leadership Award 2024 1st Runners up – The Northeastern State with the overall second-best performance in the region based on 14 key parameters. The Government of Tripura was recognized under this category.

3. Movers and Shakers Awards 2024- State which has improved the most over a 5-year period, biggest mover since the Survey Rankings of 2019 to achieve a noteworthy ranking in 2024. The Governments of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were recognized under this category for moving up 5 ranks each since 2019.

4. Destination Stewardship Award 2024- States that have improved the most since the inception of the survey, biggest movers since the Survey Rankings of 2009 to 2024, to achieve noteworthy rankings in 2024. The Government of Uttar Pradesh was recognized under this category for moving from the 19th rank in 2009 to the 10th rank in 2024.

5. Destination Leadership Award 2024 – State with the overall best performance in 2024 based on 14 key parameters. The Government of Gujarat was recognized under this category scoring the highest with 135.5 points out of 183.

6. Destination Leadership Award 2024 1st Runners Up – State with the overall second-best performance in 2024 based on 14 key parameters. The Government of Goa was recognized under this category.

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

Mr. 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.

Ms. 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, Ms. 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.”

Manav Thadani, Founder Chairman – Hotelivate

“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 cause.”

Deep Kalra, Chairman, WTTCII

“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.”

Dr Jyostna Suri, Vice Chairperson, WTTCII

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:

1)	Andhra Pradesh	11)	Jammu & Kashmir		21)	Odisha
2)	Arunachal Pradesh	12)	Jharkhand		22)	Punjab
3)	Assam	13)	Karnataka		23)	Rajasthan
4)	Bihar	14)	Kerala		24)	Sikkim
5)	Chhattisgarh	15)	Madhya Pradesh		25)	Tamil Nadu
6)	Delhi*	16)	Maharashtra		27)	Telangana
7)	Goa	17)	Manipur		28)	Tripura
8)	Gujarat	18)	Meghalaya		29)	Uttar Pradesh
9)	Haryana	19)	Mizoram		29)	Uttarakhand
10)	Himachal Pradesh	20)	Nagaland		30)	West Bengal
* Does not include Gurugram, NOIDA, Greater NOIDA, Ghaziabad and Faridabad

Table 2:

Parameters	Assigned Weight		Impact
Tourist Visits	30		High
State Expenditure on Tourism	25		High
Green Cover	20		High
Intangible Aspects	15		Medium
Presence of Branded Hotel Rooms	13		Medium
GSDP Per Capita	10		Medium
Effectiveness of Marketing Campaign	10		Medium
Urbanisation	10		Medium
Road and Railway Infrastructure	10		Medium
Aircraft Movement	10		Medium
Ease of Doing Business	10		Medium
Cleanliness	10		Medium

Literacy Rate		5		Low
Smart City Initiatives		5		Low
Total		183

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.

About WTTCII

For over 23 years, the World Travel and Tourism Council, India Initiative (WTTCII) has advanced meaningful dialogue and championed innovative public policies for India’s travel and tourism sector. WTTCII collaborates closely with both Central and State Governments to unlock the full potential of India’s travel and tourism. We advocate for partnerships between India’s public and private sectors, utilizing a research-based approach to address challenges, eliminate growth barriers, and foster inclusive growth within the industry. WTTCII continues to promote the shared interests of India’s travel and tourism industry.

Members of WTTCII share and endorse a common vision aimed at contributing to India’s economy, employment, inclusive development and a commitment to making the Indian experience truly incredible.

The WTTCII membership represents the united voice of India’s most innovative companies that promote global industry standards and sustainability practices, with footprints across the globe. WTTCII is represented by CEOs and Chairs of India’s leading airlines, consulting firms, hospitality establishments, travel services, and public sector organizations. Our membership includes airlines, advisory firms, hospitality establishments, public sector entities, real estate firms, retail businesses, travel services, and online travel agencies (OTAs).

About Hotelivate

Hotelivate is hospitality consulting firm offering its services to clients across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East Regions. It was founded by the erstwhile team of HVS India; Hotelivate, offers comprehensive consulting services through a diverse team of consultants who have a combined professional experience of over 250 years across various verticals in the hospitality industry.

The founding partners of Hotelivate are reputed hospitality business consultants, who have advised, assisted, and nurtured thousands of clients for more than two decades in South Asia and the Middle East. They have been involved in over a 1,000 feasibility studies; valuation of 1,500 plus hotels; negotiations and signing of about 80 management contracts; more than 100 different asset management assignments and 700 plus executive search assignments across 25 different countries.

Through its focused, empathetic, and innovative approach, Hotelivate serves a wide range of industry stakeholders including hotel owners, developers, brands, and investors, and across all phases of hospitality lifecycle consulting, thereby eliminating the need for several different advisors. Specifically, Hotelivate will assist clients right from inception to divestment of their hospitality ventures, by offering an entire spectrum of services that are practical and tangible value-adds for clients.

In addition, Hotelivate hosts some of Asia Pacific’s most successful conferences, namely Hotel Investment Conference – South Asia (HICSA), Hotel Operations Summit India (HOSI), and Tourism Hotel Investment & Networking Conference (THINC) Indonesia & Sri Lanka. www.hotelivate.com

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