US Travel Industry Grows Sustainably with Declining Emissions in 2025: All You Need To Know

Published on December 5, 2025

The U.S. travel industry continues to experience robust growth, with an exciting trend towards sustainability. According to the latest report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the U.S. travel sector has achieved a significant environmental milestone, seeing a decline in emissions even as the industry expands. The findings from WTTC’s Environmental & Social Research (ESR) underscore that the U.S. is leading the way in decoupling economic growth from environmental impact, offering a glimpse into the future of more sustainable travel.

US Travel Growth and Emissions Decline

Between 2019 and 2024, the U.S. travel industry saw a steady increase in GDP, growing by 1.8 percent per year. At the same time, emissions from the sector decreased by 1.7 percent annually. This marks a critical shift, showing that the travel industry can indeed expand without significantly harming the environment.

The decline in emissions is particularly important given the sector’s reliance on energy-intensive modes of transport, including airlines, buses, and trains. The WTTC report also notes that the industry’s emissions are highly concentrated in transportation, which accounts for over 54 percent of the total emissions. Despite this, there has been clear progress in the industry’s efforts to reduce its environmental footprint.

Progress in Sustainable Energy Use

While the U.S. travel industry has made strides, the use of low-carbon energy remains relatively modest. In 2024, only 5.2 percent of the travel sector’s energy usage came from low-carbon sources, still falling short of the global average. This highlights a crucial area for improvement, as the shift to renewable energy will play a key role in further reducing the environmental impact of travel.

The challenge remains in transitioning transportation systems, particularly aviation, to cleaner fuels and improving the energy efficiency of hotels and other travel-related infrastructure. However, these efforts are ongoing, and as sustainability becomes more central to consumer choices, the sector is likely to continue making strides in this area.

Social Impact: A Growing Workforce in Travel

The U.S. travel sector is also creating significant social value, with the industry employing millions of people across various roles. In 2024, 9.5 million women were directly employed in the U.S. travel industry, representing 47.4 percent of the workforce. This is notably higher than the national average for women in the workforce, highlighting the sector’s role in providing employment opportunities for women.

Additionally, youth employment in the travel sector is strong, with 3.54 million young adults (ages 15–24) working in travel-related jobs. This represents 23.7 percent of the sector’s total workforce, significantly outpacing the national average of 13.1 percent. This trend suggests that the travel industry continues to be an essential gateway for younger workers entering the labour market.

However, despite the growing workforce, there is still a gap in the number of high-wage jobs. The proportion of employees earning high wages in the travel sector is 25.5 percent, lower than the national average of 50.7 percent, indicating a need for better opportunities for high-paying roles in the industry.

Challenges and Areas for Improvement

While the decline in emissions and the rise in employment are positive trends, the U.S. travel industry still faces significant challenges. As the industry grows, it remains heavily reliant on carbon-intensive transport. The need for cleaner energy solutions and more efficient infrastructure is crucial to meet future environmental goals.

Additionally, while employment is growing, the quality of jobs remains a key issue. More efforts are needed to increase the share of high-wage jobs within the sector to ensure that travel-related employment offers greater financial security for workers.

The Path Forward: A Sustainable Future for US Travel

As the U.S. travel industry continues to evolve, the progress seen in emissions reduction and sustainable growth sets a hopeful precedent for other nations. With the right investments in clean energy, better transportation technologies, and higher-wage job opportunities, the U.S. travel sector could become a global leader in sustainable tourism.

Travellers can expect to see a greater focus on sustainable travel options in the future, from eco-friendly hotels to carbon-efficient transportation. For the industry, this shift represents a chance to build a more resilient and sustainable model that can continue growing while protecting the environment.

A Sustainable Travel Future

The data released by WTTC shows that the U.S. travel industry is not only growing but doing so in a way that reduces its environmental footprint. The 1.7 percent decline in emissions alongside a steady increase in GDP indicates a promising future where sustainable travel and economic growth can go hand in hand. For both travellers and industry leaders, this is an exciting development, demonstrating that the future of tourism can be both profitable and environmentally conscious.