WTTC Expects Global Tourism to Grow 2.5% in 2026, Faster in Europe
The World Travel & Tourism Council expects global tourism to grow 2.5% in 2026 and Europe by 3.1%, based on a record sector contribution of $11.6 trillion in 2025.
The World Travel & Tourism Council expects the global tourism sector to grow by 2.5% in 2026, with Europe growing by 3.1% compared to 2.6% in 2025, announced during the opening of its 26th Global Summit in Valletta, Malta.
The Council expects international visitor spending in Europe to grow by 5.8%, while business travel spending on the European continent is expected to grow by 4.2%.
The forecasts were based on the 2025 baseline, in which the sector's contribution reached $11.6 trillion, equivalent to 9.8% of global GDP, with 366 million jobs linked to the sector.
The tourism sector is one of the largest drivers of employment and growth in the world, making the Council's forecasts an important indicator for governments and companies operating in aviation, hotels, and hospitality.
What do these terms mean?
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC): An international body that brings together major companies in the sector and issues periodic reports on the volume of tourism's contribution to the global economy.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The total value of goods and services produced by a country's or the world's economy during a year, used to measure the volume of economic activity.
Business Travel: Trips taken by employees for work purposes such as meetings and conferences, considered one of the highest spending segments in the sector.
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