Indian travellers are reshaping global tourism trends, steadily bridging the $100 billion spending gap with China, according to Chris Hartley, CEO of Global Hotel Alliance (GHA). Speaking at the Skift India Forum 2025, Hartley highlighted that visa relaxations and infrastructure improvements are enabling a surge in outbound tourism from India. GHA, a UAE-based hotel alliance partnering with top luxury hotel brands, sees India as a key market for both outbound and inbound tourism.
The group, which connects 45 hotel brands across 850 properties globally, has witnessed double-digit growth in bookings from Indian travellers, underscoring the country's growing influence in the global hospitality sector. Outbound Luxury Travel on the Rise According to the Ministry of Tourism, outbound travel from India reached 28.2 million in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels of 26 million in 2019.
Hartley noted that international travel from India is primarily driven by leisure consumers who prefer premium travel experiences, despite short-term economic fluctuations. "The $100 billion gap between India and China's outbound spending is being bridged," said Hartley. "We know India represents a $100 billion opportunity with an immense number of potential travellers.
" Historically, visa restrictions, limited airline connectivity, and infrastructure gaps had hindered India's outbound travel growth. However, with these barriers easing, the country is poised for a tourism boom. Hartley revealed that 8.