The rate at which the travel and tourism sector is growing is only set to get stronger, says the World Travel & Tourism Council, which is urging governments to ensure plans are in place so destinations can keep up with rising visitor levels.
The council’s latest Economic Impact Research forecasts the sector will grow 3.2% globally in 2026, ahead of wider global economic growth which is forecast at 2.4%, accounting for 9.9% of global GDP and contributing a total of USD12 trillion to the economy.
Jobs-wise, the WTTC says that the travel and tourism sector is expected to support 376 million jobs in 2026.
. . . Decade Of Growth
Over the coming 10 years, travel and tourism’s GDP is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 3.6%, 1.5 times faster than the wider global economy at 2.4%, and it is predicted to support almost 89 million new jobs worldwide. With this in mind, the WTTC is highlighting the importance of continued investment in smart infrastructure, digital innovation and sustainable destination management, as well as skills development and cross-border connectivity.
Pointing to Europe as one example, the council reports that while wider European GDP growth is forecast to reach just 1% in 2026, travel and tourism GDP across Europe is expected to grow by 3.6%.
“Europe has a real opportunity to build on this momentum, but maintaining competitiveness, affordability, and seamless travel will be critical,” says Gloria Guevara, president and ceo of WTTC. Spain (pictured) is one of the nations tipped to see continued growth.
