From TikTok picks to flight prices, up to safety and transportation: the World Economic Forum has attempted to assemble all the pieces to create the ranking of the 10 leading tourism countries in 2026 with its Travel & Tourism Development Index, indicating which places today offer the strongest conditions to foster the growth of the tourism sector.
The report examines 110 economies and analyzes 102 indicators organized into 17 areas. It covers the quality of infrastructure, air connections, ground transportation, security, digitalization, the cost of a trip, openness to foreign visitors, and the ability to manage tourism without overwhelming destinations and local communities. The overall picture, however, is positive. Between 2024 and 2026 92% of the countries analyzed improved their scores. And Europe remains highly present at the top: six of the first ten positions are held by European nations.
Italia nella top 10
Italy closes the ranking of the top 10 positions, placing itself tenth in the world with a score of 4.93 out of 7. It isn’t a golden badge, certainly. But being in the same top 10 as Japan, the United States, Spain, and France says a lot about the strength of Italy’s tourism system.
What weighs the most are elements we know well: cultural heritage, attractions, art cities, tourist infrastructure, and a multitude of reasons to plan a trip practically in every season. Compared with 2024, Italy loses one position, even though its score rises by 1.3%. Looking back to 2019, the improvement reaches 3.6%.
The report notes that the most mature tourist destinations must contend with rising prices, crowding of visitors, and pressure on transport, services, and territories. Being much loved, in short, also creates some management challenges.
Japan is Number One
At the very top of the ranking is Japan, which secures first place with 5.27 points. The country has gained two positions compared with 2024 and, according to the World Economic Forum, one of its strengths is the ability to push visitors beyond the obvious destinations. Not only Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, then.
Distributing tourist flows more evenly helps relieve the pressure on the most crowded spots and, at the same time, brings travelers and tourist spending to other areas of the country. A strategy that is particularly interesting as Japan continues to record very high figures for international arrivals.
The Top 10 Countries for Travel and Tourism in 2026
A striking detail immediately emerges: Europe occupies six out of ten spots. Spain, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Italy confirm an edge built on dense transport networks, cultural heritage, services, and a tourism machine that is now highly developed. But the geography of travel is changing. The Asia-Pacific region is the one that posted the strongest gains in the latest edition, and several emerging economies are catching up.
Among the countries accelerating most quickly, Albania stands out. It is the destination that has improved its score the most between 2024 and 2026: +7%, thanks mainly to advances in air links, tourism services, and infrastructure.
- Japan;
- United States;
- Spain;
- Australia;
- France;
- Germany;
- United Kingdom;
- China;
- Switzerland;
- Italy.
