Geneva, May 7 (KNN) The World Economic Forum (WEF) has ranked India at 52nd position, 13 notches up from last time, on a global list of countries in terms of their travel and tourism competitiveness. However, according to the report India still ranks worse that its emerging market peers like China, Brazil, Russia and South Africa.
 
While India fares much better as a business destination, the infrastructure gaps, concerns on health, hygiene and environment sustainability, and its "unsettling" safety and security situation has dragged down the overall ranking.
 
The list has been topped by Spain, which is followed by France, Germany, US, UK, Switzerland, Australia, Italy, Japan and Canada in the top ten.
 
Of the large emerging markets, China (17th) and Brazil (28th) made it into the top 30, whereas Russia, South Africa and India ranked 45th, 48th and 52nd, respectively.
 
Releasing the biennial list, WEF said India's relevance as business travel destination is increasing along with its economic growth and it remains a highly price-competitive destination (with 8th position globally on this parameter) and recent changes in its visa regime have the potential to boost the international arrivals.
 
Long-standing infrastructure gaps remain, especially in tourism-specific infrastructure (where India is ranked 109th) and the quality of roads.
 
India also lags on health and hygiene (106th) and Information, Communications and Technology readiness (114th). The safety and security situation is unsettling, with a perceived increase in the impact of crime and violence (97th), and India ranks only 139th for environmental sustainability. (KNN Bureau)