The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has released its latest Economic Impact Research (EIR): Global Trends Report, highlighting the critical role of investment and supportive policies in driving the next phase of global Travel & Tourism growth. The report, sponsored by Chase Travel as WTTC’s Lead Research Partner, found that global Travel & Tourism investment surpassed USD 1 trillion in 2025, marking an 8.5% year-on-year increase. The sector also outperformed the broader global economy, contributing a record USD 11.6 trillion to global GDP.
WTTC emphasized that continued investment remains essential for strengthening destinations, improving connectivity, creating jobs and supporting long-term economic growth. According to the report, the US, China, India and Saudi Arabia emerged as the leading investment markets, collectively accounting for nearly half of global Travel & Tourism capital investment in 2025, with combined contributions of almost $500 billion.
China’s expanding tourism ambitions, backed by national development plans and a projected investment pipeline of USD 402 billion by 2036, are positioning the country as a global tourism powerhouse. India is also experiencing rapid growth, driven by improved connectivity, destination development initiatives and an increasingly open investment environment. In the US, infrastructure investment, strong domestic travel demand, and upcoming global events such as the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics are expected to further boost sector growth. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme continues to drive one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism investment strategies through major destination developments and significant public and private investment.
WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara said the research makes clear that investment and growth go hand in hand, noting that destinations making long-term commitments to Travel & Tourism today are positioning themselves to capture future jobs, visitor spending and economic opportunities. She added that the sector continues to demonstrate resilience and outperform the wider economy, delivering returns through employment, infrastructure development and community prosperity.
The report also spotlighted countries that have successfully prioritised tourism as a strategic economic sector. Spain was cited as a leading example, with Travel & Tourism contributing 15.3% of national GDP, generating USD 130 billion in international visitor spending, and supporting one in seven jobs nationwide. WTTC attributed this success to targeted government initiatives, including EUR 3.4 billion in EU recovery funding directed toward tourism sustainability, digitalisation and infrastructure, alongside Spain’s Tourism Strategy 2030.
Other markets highlighted for strong tourism growth include Indonesia, expected to become one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound travel markets; the Netherlands, forecast to record Europe’s strongest growth in tourism capital investment; and Rwanda, which continues to expand as a leading African leisure tourism destination. The report also recognised Germany as Europe’s largest Travel & Tourism market, Malta for its rapid post-pandemic recovery, Singapore for its position in global business travel, and Thailand for projected visitor spending growth across Southeast Asia.
Looking ahead, WTTC forecasts that Travel & Tourism could contribute USD 17.1 trillion to the global economy by 2036, while supporting nearly 89 million additional jobs worldwide. The organisation noted that governments can help unlock further growth by implementing policies that encourage travel, strengthen business confidence and support infrastructure development. Despite ongoing geopolitical and economic challenges, WTTC maintained that the sector’s long-term outlook remains strong, driven by rising demand, increased investment and growing recognition of tourism’s broader economic importance.