Pakistan ranked a low 101st out of 119 countries in the recent Travel and Tourism Development Index by the World Economic Forum (WEF), with only Bangladesh ranking lower in the Asia-Pacific region.
In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates led at 18th place, followed by Saudi Arabia at 41st, Qatar at 53rd, and Bahrain at 58th. The UAE topped the MENA region rankings.
The index assesses factors and policies that support the sustainable and resilient growth of the travel and tourism sector, contributing to overall national development. It was developed in collaboration with the University of Surrey and T&T industry experts.
The United States led the global rankings, followed by Spain, Japan, and France. Completing the top ten were Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Italy, and Switzerland.
The report credits their high rankings to favorable business conditions, open travel policies, advanced infrastructure in transport, tourism, ICT, and a variety of natural, cultural, and…