International visitor spending to hit US$2.1T in 2025, global travel & tourism sector to support 371M jobs – WTTC

GLOBAL – International visitor spending is forecast to reach an unprecedented US$2.1 trillion in 2025, surpassing the previous peak of US$1.94 trillion in 2019 by US$164 billion, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

This record-breaking figure highlights the sector’s robust recovery and growing global demand for travel after the The total global economic contribution of the travel and tourism sector is projected to reach US$11.7 trillion in 2025, accounting for 10.3% of worldwide GDP.

This underscores the sector’s vital role as a key driver of economic growth and prosperity across countries.

Employment linked to travel and tourism is expected to increase by 14 million jobs in 2025, pushing the total number of jobs supported by the sector to 371 million worldwide—a workforce larger than the entire population of the United States.

 These jobs span a wide range of professions, including hospitality, transportation, cultural activities, and more, highlighting the sector’s importance as a major global employer.

While the overall outlook is strong, the recovery remains uneven across major markets.

The United States, the world’s largest travel and tourism economy, continues to lag behind pre-pandemic international visitor spending levels.

Similarly, China, which saw international spending surpass pre-pandemic figures last year, is expected to experience a sharp slowdown in growth during 2025.

In contrast, Saudi Arabia is emerging as a standout performer, with travel and tourism expected to contribute SAR 447.2 billion (US$119 billion) to its economy in 2025.

The sector is projected to account for more than 10% of Saudi Arabia’s GDP and support a record 2.7 million jobs, fueled by strong international and domestic spending.

Across the wider Middle East region, travel and tourism is forecast to contribute US$367.3 billion to the economy and support 7.7 million jobs in 2025.

 International visitor spending in the region is expected to reach nearly US$194 billion, 24% above 2019 levels, while domestic spending is projected to hit US$113 billion.

Looking ahead, WTTC forecasts that by 2035, the travel and tourism sector will contribute US$16.5 trillion to the global economy, representing 11.5% of global GDP, with employment expected to grow to over 460 million jobs worldwide.

These figures highlight the sustained growth potential of the global travel and tourism industry and its critical role in supporting economic development and job creation worldwide.

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