New Delhi, March 24 -- Unfazed by an economic downturn, Indian travellers are fuelling a surge in premium international travel, steadily closing the $100 billion spending gap with China to rewrite the global tourism playbook, according to the chief executive of Global Hotel Alliance.

With visa hurdles easing and infrastructure improving, India is poised to become a powerhouse in outbound tourism, Chris Hartley, CEO of Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), told Mint on the sidelines of the Skift India Forum 2025.

The UAE-based hotel alliance, which has tie-ups with some of the top luxury resorts and hotels, is also betting on the country's inbound potential, aiming to expand its footprint to 100 properties over the next few years.

Its loyalty pr...