Global investment in Travel and Tourism surpassed $1 trillion in 2025, growing 8.5% year-on-year, as the sector once again outpaced the broader world economy, according to a new report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

The Economic Impact Research (EIR): Global Trends Report, produced with Chase Travel as Principal Research Partner, found that Travel and Tourism contributed a record $11.6 trillion to global GDP last year, reinforcing the industry's role as one of the world's most resilient economic engines.

Four countries drove nearly half of all global capital investment in the sector: the United States, China, India and Saudi Arabia, which together accounted for roughly $500 billion. Each market is combining infrastructure development, supportive government policy and growing private-sector confidence to expand its tourism footprint, the report found.

China's ambition to become a global tourism powerhouse, backed by successive Five-Year Plans, could see its Travel and Tourism investment portfolio reach $402 billion by 2036, according to WTTC projections. India, meanwhile, continues to expand air connectivity and destination development programs within an investment-friendly environment.

In the United States, large-scale infrastructure investment, strong domestic demand and a packed global events calendar — including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics — are expected to sustain continued sector growth. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 remains one of the fastest-growing tourism investment programs in the world, underpinned by large-scale destination projects and investor-friendly reforms.

Spain leads Europe's success stories

The report singles out Spain as one of Europe's standout performers, with Travel and Tourism now accounting for 15.3% of national GDP, generating $130 billion in international visitor spending and supporting one in seven jobs nationwide. WTTC credits sustained government action, including €3.4 billion in EU recovery funds earmarked for sustainability, digitalization and infrastructure, along with Spain's Tourism Strategy 2030.

Other markets highlighted in the report include Indonesia, projected to become one of the fastest-growing outbound tourism markets over the next decade; the Netherlands, which is set to post Europe's strongest growth in tourism capital investment; and Rwanda, now among Africa's fastest-growing leisure tourism economies. Germany, Malta, Singapore and Thailand were also cited for strong regional performance.

WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara said investment and growth in the sector go hand in hand, adding that destinations making long-term commitments to Travel and Tourism today are positioning themselves to capture tomorrow's jobs and economic opportunities.

With Travel and Tourism projected to contribute $17.1 trillion to the global economy and create nearly 89 million additional jobs by 2036, the WTTC says governments have a significant opportunity to cement the sector as a strategic driver of long-term growth, even as geopolitical uncertainty continues to shape the global outlook.