The global tourism industry ended 2025 with the highest figures in its history. According to WTTC estimates, the total economic contribution of travel and tourism amounted to about 10 trillion euros (10.3 percent of global GDP) and increased by 6.7 percent compared to the previous year.
WTTC management described the impact of this sector more openly: tourism has become a major "employer" in the global labor market, providing jobs for millions of people. Gloria Guevara, one of the organization's leaders, expressed the opinion that "if tourism were a separate country, it would be one of the largest economies in the world."
During 2025, international travel also increased significantly: more than 1.5 billion people traveled abroad, and the number of travelers increased again compared to 2024. This trend indicates that tourism has fully recovered and even gained new momentum after the pandemic.
Europe has become a "locomotive"
The impact of tourism on the economy in Europe approached 2.5 trillion euros, reaching a level equal to 10 percent of the region's GDP. WTTC and international observations emphasize that European and some Asian destinations (in particular, Japan) are strongly attracting tourist flows.
Record in Spain: both tourists and spending increased
One of the most prominent examples in Europe is Spain. According to Reuters, the country recorded a record number of about 97 million foreign tourists in 2025. The WTTC forecast shows that the total economic impact of tourism will be around 260 billion euros, and the sector's share in GDP will be large.
Why was the US an "exception"?
Despite the growth of tourism observed in many regions of the world, several sources have written about a decrease in the flow of incoming tourists and their expenditure in the USA. Reuters, citing WTTC estimates, notes that the number of foreign guests in the US decreased by 6% in 2025, and the consumption of foreign tourists also decreased.
The conclusion is this: 2025 was the "highest peak" for tourism. But at this peak, new questions are also arising - the pressure on infrastructure in some countries, the risk of "excessive tourism," the impact of security and visa policies. This means that in 2026 the fight will be not only for the number of tourists, but also for quality service, convenient rules, and sustainable development.
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