Global Travel & Tourism Surges as WTTC Global Summit Opens in Rome

Rome, Italy: At its twenty fifth Global Summit in Rome at this time, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) launched its newest report, revealing that Europe stays the beating coronary heart of worldwide tourism, with 5 of the world’s high 10 strongest Travel & Tourism markets by GDP.  

The return of the WTTC Global Summit to Europe, for the primary time for the reason that pandemic displays the area’s enduring world management.  

Italy’s place as a G7 nation and as host of this 12 months’s Global Summit additional underlines its management position, constructing on internet hosting final 12 months’s first-ever G7 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting.  

According to the most recent knowledge, Italy’s Travel & Tourism sector reached $248.3BN final 12 months, underpinned by robust worldwide customer spend and a booming conferences and occasions business.  

Germany, the world’s third strongest Travel & Tourism market, contributed $525BN to its GDP in 2024.  

Despite shedding £2.2BN worldwide guests spending final 12 months, the UK added $367BN to its financial system, sustaining its place as one of many strongest and most dynamic markets worldwide. 

France, the world’s most visited vacation spot, generated over $289BN from Travel & Tourism in 2024, while Spain, the second most visited nation on this planet, added $270BN. 

This broad-based progress demonstrates Europe’s potential to mix heritage with innovation, keep world competitiveness, and cleared the path in sustainable tourism growth. 

WTTC Interim CEO Gloria Guevara stated: “These results tell a story of strength and opportunity. The U.S. remains the world’s largest Travel & Tourism market, China is surging back, Europe is powering ahead, and destinations across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa are delivering record growth. This year, we are forecasting that our sector will contribute an historic $2.1TN in 2025, surpassing the previous high of $1.9TN in 2019, by $164BN. 

“As Italy hosts this year’s Global Summit, its role as a G7 leader showcases the importance of tourism in driving economies, creating jobs, and shaping our shared future.” 

Around the World 

The report additionally reveals that the U.S. stays the world’s strongest Travel & Tourism market, contributing $2.6TN to GDP in 2024, with its home market remaining the strongest on this planet, sustaining thousands and thousands of jobs and underpinning sector resilience. 

However, WTTC forecasts worldwide customer spending within the U.S. will fall by $12.5BN in 2025, leaving progress at simply +0.7%. WTTC has warned that with out vacation spot promotion, traveller-friendly insurance policies, and decreased visa prices, it may lose its aggressive edge. 

China, the world’s second-largest Travel & Tourism market, contributed $1.64TN to its financial system in 2024, and is forecast to surge by 22.7% in 2025, including $260BN to its financial system, highlighting China’s speedy return to worldwide prominence and its pivotal position in shaping world journey flows. 

Japan, the world’s fifth largest Travel & Tourism financial system with a $310.5BN contribution in 2024, is forecast so as to add an additional $13.8BN to its GDP this 12 months to succeed in virtually $325BN. 

Travel & Tourism is now rising quicker than the buyer items sector, exhibiting how individuals more and more worth experiences over materials items.  

The Economic Impact Research Trends report exhibits that Travel & Tourism is cementing its position as a cornerstone of the worldwide financial system. 

Middle East Momentum 

The Middle East stays one of many fastest-growing areas on this planet for Travel & Tourism, with Saudi Arabia persevering with to face out as a world powerhouse, with inbound customer spend surging and infrastructure funding reaching document ranges.  

Across the area, capital is flowing into airports, cruise terminals, and cutting-edge hospitality initiatives, signalling long-term confidence in its ambition to grow to be a world tourism hub. 

Jobs Boom Across the World 

According to the report, Travel & Tourism supported 357MN jobs in 2024 and is ready to rise to 371MN in 2025, together with a rise within the sector’s share of world employment. 

By 2035, one in eight jobs worldwide can be supported by Travel & Tourism, with an extra 91MN new jobs supported, the bulk within the Asia-Pacific area, leading to one in three new jobs globally supported by the sector. 

Long-Term Confidence 

Confidence in Travel & Tourism stays unshakable. Global funding within the sector surpassed $1TN in 2024, up 9.9% year-on-year, and is forecast to proceed climbing in 2025.  

The U.S., China, Saudi Arabia, and France collectively accounted for greater than half a trillion {dollars} of that funding. 

Italy attracted €11.4BN in 2024, reinforcing its place as one in all Europe’s most tasty locations for sustainable and revolutionary tourism growth. 

The Global Summit is hosted in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Tourism, ENIT (the Italian nationwide vacationer board), the Municipality of Rome, and the Lazio Region.

Other WTTC Partners embrace Antonio Lefebvre d’Ovidio Di Bolsonaro Philantrophy, Arsenale Spa, Chase Travel (JPMC), Giacomo Milano, MMGY, MSC Group, Terme di Saturnia, and Trip.com Group. 

Get the Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2025: Global Trends report.

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Editor’s Note

 Travel & Tourism’s Total Contribution to GDP, $ Billions, League Table: