The Philippines has joined a select group of major emerging tourism economies that are outpacing global average growth in travel and tourism development, according to a World Economic Forum report released Friday, September 25, 2026.
The 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index, or TTDI, identified the Philippines alongside China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Türkiye, Mexico, and Brazil as the 10 largest non-high-income travel and tourism economies driving significant global momentum.
Together, those 10 countries account for over 28 percent of global direct travel and tourism gross domestic product. Their combined share is projected to rise to 35 percent by 2035, the report said.
Since 2019, the group’s average TTDI score rose by 4.7 percent. That improvement beat the overall global index growth of 2.9 percent and the 1.9 percent gain among the world’s top 20 leading tourism economies.
Between 2024 and 2026 alone, the 10 nations improved faster than the remaining 100 economies across 15 of the index’s 17 pillars. The findings show emerging destinations like the Philippines outperforming the top 20 leaders in price competitiveness, natural resources, travel and tourism demand sustainability, and cultural resources.
Since 2019, these economies have also expanded their lead in cultural resources while steadily closing historical gaps in information and communications technology readiness, safety and security, and air transport infrastructure.
The momentum lines up with broader Asia-Pacific gains. The region was the most improved in the 2026 index, with an average score increase of 3.6 percent from 2024. Seven of the world’s 10 most improved economies came from developing countries in South-East and South Asia.
Gaps remain. The report noted that emerging markets still need progress in tourist services and infrastructure, including accommodation and visitor services, as well as in the business environment, human resources and labour markets, and environmental sustainability.
Globally, 101 of 110 evaluated economies, or 92 percent, improved their TTDI scores between 2024 and 2026. Japan, the United States, Spain, Australia, and France led the overall rankings, while Albania posted the largest individual score increase at 7.0 percent.
For travelers and industry planners, the ranking story is less about a single score and more about overall direction of travel. The Philippines is grouped with peers that are gaining share of global tourism output, even as the report flags unfinished work on visitor services and sustainability that will shape the next decade of growth.
The TTDI compares economies on the conditions and policies that support sustainable tourism growth and resilience. For the Philippines, inclusion among the top emerging drivers highlights both recent progress and the work still ahead on infrastructure, skills, and sustainability as the country courts more international visitors.
Source: Philippine News Agency (https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1284889) ; Travel And Tour World (https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/b3nr14xnceaq/)
