US, China tourism cools as India’s travel sector heats up
The global tourism market is slowing down, particularly in major markets like China and the US. The IMF forecasts that US economic growth will decelerate to 1.9% by 2025 due to a cooling labor market, reduced consumption, and tighter fiscal policies. In the US, hotel occupancy rates have slightly declined since April of last year and remain about 5% below 2019 levels. Similarly, in Greater China, major hotel chains like Marriott, IHG, and Wyndham have reported drops in Revenue Per Available Room, with Marriott’s CFO expecting further declines. Amid these challenges, India is emerging as a new tourism powerhouse, now the world's sixth-largest domestic travel market. McKinsey predicts that India’s travel spending will grow at 9% annually and may surpass Japan and Mexico by 2030.