WTTC Projects Strong Growth in Global Travel & Tourism
by Marsha Mowers
The WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council) has released its latest research that projects global Travel & Tourism will grow strong this year.
The results come amidst global economic uncertainty and as two major tourism powerhouses – the US and China – have respectively, seen international spend remain significantly below 2019 levels in 2024 and whose growth is expected to slow sharply in 2025.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said “People are continuing to prioritize travel. That’s a powerful vote of confidence in our sector and a sign of its enduring strength.
But while the global picture in Travel & Tourism is strong, the recovery remains uneven. Whilst some countries and regions are producing record-breaking numbers, other large economies are plateauing.”
According to WTTC’s 2025 Economic Impact Research (EIR), international visitor spending is forecast to reach an historic $2.1 trillion USD in 2025, surpassing the previous high of $1.9 trillion USD in 2019 and excepted to account for 10.3% of global GDP.
France and Spain, the world’s top two destinations in terms of visitor numbers, continue to lead Europe’s rebound after the pandemic. A key market to watch Saudi Arabia, who is injecting $800 billion USD into the sector by 2030.
The WTTC forecasts that by 2035, Travel & Tourism will inject $16.5 trillion USD into the global economy, accounting for 11.5% of global GDP, a decade-long growth rate of 3.5% annually, outpacing the wider economy’s 2.5%.
WTTC produces reports annually in collaboration with Oxford Economics, on the economic and employment impact of Travel & Tourism for 185 economies.
