Annual investment in travel and tourism surpasses $1 trillion

Global travel and tourism investment exceeded $1 trillion last year for the first time since 2019, rising 8.5% year on year and demonstrating “growing confidence in the sector”, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

The US, China, India and Saudi Arabia accounted for almost half this $1 trillion total, the WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research: Global Trends Report suggests, with policy support and investment the key drivers of growth in the sector.

Research for the report, sponsored by lead research partner Chase Travel – part of US investment bank JP Morgan Chase – suggests travel and tourism contributed a record $11.6 trillion to global GDP in 2025.

It notes China’s travel and tourism investment pipeline is forecast to reach $402 billion by 2036, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 continues to drive one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism investment programmes despite the destabilising impact of the US war on Iran, and expansion in the US is expected to continue due to strong domestic demand and a pipeline of international events including the recent FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. 

WTTC president and chief executive Gloria Guevara said: “The message from this research is investment and growth go hand in hand. 

“The destinations and economies making long-term commitments to travel and tourism today are positioning themselves to capture tomorrow’s jobs, visitor spending and economic opportunities. 

“As governments and investors look for engines of sustainable growth, our sector continues to deliver returns through employment, infrastructure development and prosperity for communities.”

The WTTC said the report demonstrates “countries treating travel and tourism as a strategic economic priority are seeing measurable returns”. 

It notes tourism in Spain contributed more than 15% of the country’s GDP, $130 billion in international visitor spending and supported one in seven jobs last year, aided by “sustained government action [and] policies to diversify tourism across seasons and destinations”.

The report also highlights destinations including Indonesia, forecast to become one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound markets; the Netherlands which is expected to record the strongest growth in tourism capital investment in Europe; Rwanda – one of Africa’s fastest-growing leisure destinations; and Thailand, which is expected to see some of the strongest visitor spending growth in Southeast Asia.

The WTTC forecasts travel and tourism will contribute more than $17 trillion a year to the global economy by 2036 and add almost 89 million jobs.

Its report urges governments to “facilitate travel, support business confidence and prioritise travel and tourism as a strategic economic driver”, arguing that “while geopolitical uncertainty and economic headwinds continue to shape the global landscape, the long-term outlook for tourism remains exceptionally strong”.