US Travel and Tourism Now Grows While Reducing Emissions, Marking Progress Toward Sustainability, Get the Details Here

Published on December 5, 2025

The U.S. Travel & Tourism sector is continuing to flourish, according to new data from the World Travel & Tourism Council. According to the report, which was released on December 5, 2025, from 2019 to 2024, the sector delivered a yearly GDP growth average of 1.8% along with a yearly reduction in emissions by 1.7%. This development evidences an undertaking toward sustainability and a meaningful leap toward decoupling economic growth from environmental impact.

Strong Growth and Environmental Gains

Between 2019 and 2024, the U.S. Travel & Tourism industry has been able to increase its economic output while actively working to reduce its environmental footprint. WTTC’s Environmental & Social Research (ESR) report reveals that the U.S. travel and tourism sector experienced a solid annual growth rate of 1.8% in GDP, even as emissions decreased by 1.7%. This reflects a positive shift toward a more sustainable business model, driven by investments in energy-efficient technologies and operational improvements across various sectors of travel and tourism.

One of the key metrics in the report is emissions intensity, which measures the amount of CO2 emitted per dollar of GDP. In 2019, the sector emitted 0.38 kg of CO2 equivalent per USD of GDP, but by 2024, this number had dropped to 0.32 kg, marking a significant improvement in the sector’s operational efficiency. At the same time, the proportion of low-carbon energy in the sector’s total energy mix increased to 5.2%, up from 5.1% in 2023 and a significant rise from the 4.1% recorded in 2019.

These advancements indicate that the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector is producing more economic value, with nearly 2% annual GDP growth, while simultaneously working to lower its environmental impact. This progress is not only significant for the U.S. but also provides a model for other countries to follow as they strive to achieve similar sustainability goals in their own tourism sectors.

U.S. Leads in Global Tourism Sustainability

Gloria Guevara, Interim President & CEO of WTTC, praised the U.S. for its positive trajectory, noting that the country, as the world’s largest travel and tourism market, has a unique opportunity to lead the way in sustainable tourism. Guevara emphasized the importance of decoupling growth from environmental damage, stating that the ongoing progress of the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector could have both national and global implications for shaping a cleaner, more competitive future for the industry.

“The U.S. has the chance to show the world that it’s possible to achieve growth without compromising the environment,” Guevara said. “This is not just a victory for the U.S., but a global model for others to follow as they work to transition their industries to more sustainable practices.”

The Challenge of Transport Emissions

The WTTC report also provides a breakdown of the sources of emissions in the travel and tourism sector. Not surprisingly, transportation remains the largest contributor, accounting for 54% of the total emissions. This is significantly higher than the global average of 40%. The report notes that while transportation emissions are a major concern, there are ongoing efforts within the industry to reduce these emissions, particularly in aviation and ground transportation.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is one of the most promising solutions to reduce emissions in the aviation sector, with several major U.S. airlines committing to long-term agreements for SAF supply and production. Although SAF remains in limited supply, these initiatives highlight the industry’s dedication to finding and implementing cleaner, more sustainable fuel options. The shift toward cleaner fuels and more energy-efficient travel options could be key to further reducing the tourism sector’s carbon footprint in the coming years.

Increasing Social Impact: More Jobs for Women and Youth

In addition to its environmental achievements, the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector has also made significant strides in its social impact. The industry continues to provide substantial employment opportunities, especially for women and young people. In 2024, the sector supported 9.5 million female workers, representing 47.4% of the direct sector employment. This marks a 1.8% increase in female workers compared to 2023, reflecting the sector’s continued commitment to gender equity.

Youth employment in the sector also saw positive growth, with the number of workers aged 15-24 increasing by 1.1%, from 3.5 million in 2023 to 3.54 million in 2024. This age group now represents 23.7% of the direct U.S. Travel & Tourism workforce, which is notably higher than both the regional average for the Americas (19.6%) and the overall U.S. workforce share (13.1%).

The increasing participation of women and young people highlights the growing inclusivity of the travel and tourism industry. As these groups continue to gain access to job opportunities, the sector plays a vital role in promoting social equity and economic development across the U.S.

Moving Toward a Sustainable Future

Decarbonization by aviation and investments in cleaner fuels will be crucial in helping speed up the pace toward a more sustainable future for the industry. As the sector of Travel & Tourism in the U.S. keeps evolving, it will set the stage for other countries to do likewise in these sustainable practices and show that economic and environmental goals can be achieved together.