Travel & Tourism set to break all records this year, reveals WTTC

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is projecting a record-breaking year for Travel & Tourism in 2024, with the sector’s global economic contribution set to reach an all-time high of $11.1 trillion.

According to the global tourism body’s 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR), Travel & Tourism will contribute an additional $770 billion over its previous record, stamping its authority as a global economic powerhouse, generating one in every 10 dollars worldwide.

As the global sector soars past its pre-pandemic prosperity, WTTC expects 142 countries of 185 analysed will be outperforming previous national records.

In partnership with Oxford Economic, WTTC’s latest EIR showcases a sector briming with opportunities, underpinning almost 348 million jobs globally. This represents an increase of more than 13.6 mn jobs compared to its highest point in 2019.

International visitor spending is expected to come within touching distance of the 2019 peak, to reach $1.89 trillion, while domestic tourists are forecast to spend more than in any year on record to hit $5.4 trillion.

Despite economic uncertainties and geopolitical shake-ups, the Travel & Tourism sector is thriving. With an economic injection of nearly $10 trillion, the sector matched its pre-pandemic zenith, flexing its resilience and proving its critical role in the global economy.

Representing 9.1 per cent of global GDP at just over $9.9 trillion in 2023, Travel & Tourism’s financial footprint was the largest it’s been since the golden year of travel in 2019, trailing its peak by a mere 4 per cent.

The sector also bolstered its workforce by an additional 27.4mn, propelling the total to nearly 330mn jobs worldwide.

International spending increased by 33.1 per cent to reach $1.63tn, underscoring a vibrant comeback story for many countries around the world, with domestic spending increasing by more than 18 per cent to reach almost $5 trillion.

2023 set the stage, demonstrating the unwavering passion for travel, paving the way for a record-breaking year in 2024.

This growth comes despite two of the world’s biggest tourism markets lagging in terms of international visitor spend, with both the US and China seeing a far slower return of international tourist spend.

Last year in the US, international visitor spending remained more than a quarter below the peak of 2019, while China’s visitor spend remained almost 60 per cent down.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Against the backdrop of uncertainty, the Travel & Tourism sector remains a global economic powerhouse.

“This isn’t just about breaking records, we’re no longer talker about a recovery - this is a story of the sector back at its best after a difficult few years, providing a significant economic boost to countries around the world and supporting millions of jobs.

“There’s a risk however, we need the US and Chinese governments to support their national Travel & Tourism sectors. The US and China will continue to suffer whilst other countries are seeing international visitors return much faster.”

Looking ahead, WTTC is forecasting a promising future for the next decade, characterised by robust growth and unparalleled career opportunities.

By 2034, the sector will supercharge the global economy with a staggering $16tn, making up 11.4 per cent of the entire economic landscape.

This booming industry is also set to be a job creation juggernaut, providing employment for 449MN people worldwide. Nearly 12.2 per cent of the workforce will be powering this vibrant sector, showcasing Travel & Tourism’s pivotal role in global employment.

With more than three quarters of the countries analysed expected to exceed the high point of 2019, in terms of GDP contribution, travel & Tourism is on the brink of its most transformative era yet, promising prosperity, innovation, and connection on a scale we’ve yet to see.

Meanwhile Abu Dhbai is commitment to high-profile Hollywood projects such as these speaks volumes about its visibility and connection with the rest of the world. That enthusiasm for developing Abu Dhabi as a travel destination received an important boost this week with news of a $10 billion investment in the emirate’s infrastructure that’s intended to support its 2030 tourism strategy, which includes ambitious goals to boost visitor numbers to 39.3 million and increase the sector’s GDP contribution to Dhs90 billion ($24.5 billion) within six years.

Firstly, this ambitious investment plan does not just involve the tourism sector - it is a collaboration involving government departments responsible for culture, economic development, municipal services and transportation, among others. That means, as the tourism strategy states, enhancing Abu Dhabi’s roads, public transport and infrastructure. Improved connectivity and services are good news for citizens and residents, as is the positive effect of directly and indirectly creating nearly 180,000 jobs.