Global Tourism Reaches Record Highs in 2025 despite Economic Challenges

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reports robust global growth for the Travel & Tourism sector in 2025, with international visitor spending projected to reach a record-breaking $2.1 trillion. This surpasses the previous high of 2019 by $164 billion, highlighting the sector’s continued resilience despite global economic headwinds.

According to WTTC’s Economic Impact Research (EIR), the sector will contribute an all-time high of $11.7 trillion to the global economy this year, representing 10.3% of global GDP. Employment in the sector is also set to grow by 14 million, reaching a total of 371 million jobs worldwide—more than the population of the United States.

WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson stated, “People are continuing to prioritise travel, showing confidence in the sector’s strength. However, the recovery is uneven. While some countries break records, others, like the U.S., China, and Germany, are facing slower rebounds in visitor spending and growth.”

In the U.S., international visitor spending remains well below pre-pandemic levels and is not expected to recover fully in 2025. China, after outperforming in 2024, is now facing slower growth. In contrast, markets like Saudi Arabia, which plans to inject $800 billion into Travel & Tourism by 2030, are setting new global benchmarks. France and Spain also continue to thrive, leading Europe’s tourism resurgence.

Looking ahead, WTTC projects the sector will generate $16.5 trillion by 2035, accounting for 11.5% of global GDP. Jobs are expected to exceed 460 million, meaning one in every eight jobs will be supported by Travel & Tourism. International spending is forecast to hit $2.9 trillion, while domestic spending will grow to $7.7 trillion, both expanding at a healthy 3.3%–3.4% CAGR over the next decade.

In 2024, the sector already reached $10.9 trillion, contributing 10% of the global economy, and saw a 6.2% rise in employment to 357 million jobs. With continued collaboration between WTTC and Oxford Economics, the sector's evolution is closely tracked, including through Environmental Social Research, which revealed that Travel & Tourism emissions stood at 6.5% of the global total in 2023—underlining the need for sustainable innovation as growth continues.