Global Travel & Tourism Industry Set for Record-Breaking Growth in 2025, Says WTTC

Published on April 10, 2025

By: Paramita Sarkar

Despite facing ongoing economic challenges, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed that the global Travel & Tourism sector is on track to reach unprecedented growth in 2025. The sector is projected to contribute a record-breaking $11.7 trillion to the global economy, accounting for 10.3% of global GDP, marking an all-time high.

According to the latest WTTC Economic Impact Research (EIR) for 2025, international visitor spending is expected to surge to $2.1 trillion, surpassing the previous high of $1.9 trillion in 2019 by an impressive $164 billion. This marks a significant rebound in global tourism spending as travelers increasingly prioritize travel, despite global economic uncertainty.

The global travel sector is set to support an additional 14 million jobs worldwide in 2025, bringing the total number of jobs in the industry to 371 million, which is more than the population of the U.S.. This continued growth underscores the sector’s resilience and its vital contribution to the global economy, with more people employed in tourism-related roles than ever before.

Challenges and Growth Outlook for Major Markets

WTTC President & CEO, Julia Simpson, commented, “The global Travel & Tourism sector remains strong, with people continuing to prioritize travel. However, the recovery is uneven across different regions. While many countries are seeing record-breaking numbers, others like the U.S., China, and Germany are experiencing slower growth.”

For instance, in the U.S., international visitor spending in 2024 remained below 2019 levels and is not expected to fully recover in 2025. In China, although international visitor spending surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2024, growth is expected to slow considerably this year.

On a brighter note, Saudi Arabia is emerging as a leader in the tourism sector, with projections of injecting $800 billion into the global Travel & Tourism industry by 2030. European nations such as France and Spain continue to lead the resurgence of tourism in Europe, benefiting from strong global appeal and strategic investments in the tourism infrastructure.

Looking Back at 2024

In 2024, global Travel & Tourism contributed $10.9 trillion to the world’s economy, representing 10% of global GDP—an 8.5% increase from the previous year and 6% higher than the pre-pandemic peak in 2019. Employment in the sector grew by 6.2%, reaching 357 million jobs, accounting for one in 10 jobs globally.

International spending also grew by nearly 12%, reaching $1.87 trillion, while domestic spending rose by 5.4%, totaling $5.3 trillion. These positive trends provide strong momentum for the sector as it moves into 2025.

Looking Ahead: A Decade of Growth

Looking toward the future, WTTC forecasts that by 2035, the Travel & Tourism sector will contribute $16.5 trillion to the global economy, increasing its share of global GDP to 11.5%. This growth is expected to continue at a rate of 3.5% annually, outpacing the broader economy’s 2.5% growth rate.

In line with these projections, international spending is anticipated to reach $2.9 trillion, and domestic spending is set to grow to $7.7 trillion by 2035. However, WTTC’s Environmental Social Research for 2023 highlights the urgent need for sustainable innovation, as the tourism sector accounted for 6.5% of global emissions.

For more insights on the global impact of Travel & Tourism, visit official government and tourism websites such as WTTC.