United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Global tourism set for record breaking year
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is forecasting a record-breaking year for tourism in 2024.
It predicts an all-time high impact of $11.1 trillion.
According to its 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR), global tourism will contribute an additional $770 billion above the previous record, representing one in every 10 dollars worldwide.
WTTC expects 142 countries of 185 analysed will outperform previous national records.
In partnership with Oxford Economic, WTTC’s latest data finds global tourism will support 348 million jobs.
This represents an increase of more than 13.6 million jobs compared to the previous best in 2019.
International visitor spending is expected to edge toward the 2019 peak, at $1.89 trillion, while domestic tourism will generate a record $5.4 trillion.
Global tourism generated 9.1% of global GDP in 2023.
The sector also bolstered its workforce by an additional 27.4 million, propelling the total to nearly 330MN jobs worldwide.
This comes as both the US and China have yet to fully recover their pre-pandemic inbound tourism markets.
Julia Simpson, WTTC CEO, said: “Against the backdrop of uncertainty, the tourism sector remains a global economic powerhouse.”
“This is a story of the sector back at its best after a difficult few years, and supporting millions of jobs.
“We need the US and China governments to support their national tourism sectors.”
Related News Stories: Sri Lanka Launches New Brand, Announces New Global Campaign … Sri Lanka tourism sets out to capture repeat visitors Hays Travel set for Portugal conference Qatar Tourism to lead a delegation of 42 partners at World Travel … International tourist numbers to Florida continue to rise – TravelMole Successful Virtuoso® Connects Event In London Brought Together … United set to restart Israel flights American Cruise Lines’ second coastal cat set for launch Princess Cruises sets Alaska cruise booking record UK’s biggest airports set to miss CT scanner deadline – TravelMole
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Storm Lilian travel chaos as bank holiday flights cancelled