Despite economic headwinds, travel and tourism is still strong with record-breaking international visitor spending in 2025 and continued global growth.
The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) latest research shows that global travel and tourism is projected to grow strongly this year.
According to WTTC’s 2025 Economic Impact Research (EIR), international visitor spending is forecast to reach an historic $2.1TN in 2025, surpassing the previous high of $1.9TN in 2019 by $164BN.
This year, travel and tourism is expected to contribute an all-time high of $11.7TN to the global economy, accounting for 10.3% of global GDP.
Jobs around the world supported by the sector are expected to grow by 14 million in 2025 to reach 371 million worldwide, more than the population of the U.S.
“People are continuing to prioritise travel. That’s a powerful vote of confidence in our sector and a sign of its enduring strength,” said Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO.
“But while the global picture in travel and tourism is strong, the recovery remains uneven. While some countries and regions are producing record-breaking numbers, other large economies are plateauing.”
The Decade Ahead
WTTC forecasts that by 2035, Travel & Tourism will inject $16.5TN into the global economy, accounting for 11.5% of global GDP. That’s a decade-long growth rate of 3.5% annually, outpacing the wider economy’s 2.5%.
Jobs are expected to reach one in eight jobs, with more than 460 million.
International spending is anticipated to reach $2.9TN, with a CAGR of 3.4%, and domestic spending will grow at a similar rate (3.3%), to reach $7.7TN.
In collaboration with Oxford Economics, WTTC produces reports annually on the economic and employment impact of Travel & Tourism for 185 economies.
Each year, WTTC also releases its groundbreaking Environmental Social Research, which shows the sector’s emissions stood at 6.5% of the global total in 2023 – underscoring the critical need for continued sustainable innovation as Travel & Tourism expands.
# All figures are in USD
