Bangladesh’s Tourism Sector Improves, But Global Ranking Shows Challenges
Bangladesh has been ranked 98th out of 110 countries in the latest global tourism report. The World Economic Forum (WEF) published its 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index on Friday. This report measures how well countries support their tourism industries.
Bangladesh scored 3.34 out of a possible 7. This placed the country lower than its South Asian neighbors. India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Pakistan all ranked higher. Bangladesh’s position is also low compared to many countries in the broader Asia-Pacific region.
The World Economic Forum index looks at many important things for tourism. These include the business environment and safety in a country. It also checks health services, worker skills, and internet access. How much a country values tourism, its price levels, and travel infrastructure are also reviewed. Natural beauty and cultural sites, along with efforts for sustainable tourism, are key factors.
Globally, Japan took the top spot in the 2026 index. It scored 5.27 out of 7. The United States, which was first last time, is now second with 5.23 points. Spain, Australia, and France followed as the next top countries. Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Switzerland, and Italy also made it to the top ten.
The report found good news for global tourism. Scores went up for 101 of the 110 countries between 2024 and 2026. The average global score increased by 2.1 percent. Bangladesh’s score also improved by 1.6 percent during this period. The World Economic Forum said that the overall conditions for tourism are now the best they have been since the pandemic.
Tourism infrastructure, cultural resources, and air travel improved globally. Readiness in information and communications technology also showed progress. However, the sector faces new problems. Rising costs, not enough investment, and a shortage of skilled workers are major issues. Environmental pressures also challenge tourism growth. The report noted that price competitiveness went down in nearly three-quarters of the countries.
The World Economic Forum advised against comparing the new index directly with the 2024 results. This is because some data and how it was measured changed for the 2026 edition. The 2024 results were also re-calculated with the new method. Some countries from the 2024 list are not included this year.
