The research, sponsored by Chase Travel as Lead Research Partner, found that the Travel & Tourism sector outperformed the wider global economy and contributed a record US$11.6 trillion to world GDP during the year.
WTTC said sustained capital investment supports employment, destination development, transport connectivity and long-term economic growth across tourism markets.
The United States, China, India and Saudi Arabia together accounted for almost half of global Travel & Tourism capital investment in 2025, contributing nearly US$500 billion.
According to the report, the four markets are expanding their investment pipelines through infrastructure development, supportive government policies and increased private-sector participation.
China’s Travel & Tourism investment pipeline is projected to reach US$402 billion by 2036. The country’s tourism development plans are supported by successive Five-Year Plans and policies intended to expand its position within the global tourism economy.
India’s investment activity is being supported by expanding transport connectivity, destination development programmes and an investment framework open to private-sector participation.
In the United States, infrastructure expenditure, domestic travel demand and a programme of international events are expected to support further development. These include the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy continues to support investment in large-scale tourism destinations, regulatory reforms and public and private capital commitments.
WTTC said the investment strategies adopted by the four countries are contributing to destination competitiveness, visitor growth and the development of tourism infrastructure.
Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of WTTC, said: “The message from this research is clear: investment and growth go hand in hand. The destinations and economies making long-term commitments to Travel & Tourism today are positioning themselves to capture tomorrow’s jobs, visitor spending, and economic opportunities. Travel & Tourism has once again proven its resilience and its ability to outperform the wider economy. As governments and investors look for engines of sustainable growth, our sector continues to deliver returns through employment, infrastructure development, and prosperity for communities around the world.”
The report also examines markets where Travel & Tourism has been treated as a strategic economic priority and assesses the contribution of public policy and capital investment.
In Spain,Travel & Tourism accounted for 15.3% of national GDP, generated US$130 billion in international visitor spending and supported one in every seven jobs.
The report linked Spain’s performance to government measures including €3.4 billion in European Union recovery funding for tourism sustainability, digitalisation and infrastructure.
Further measures include policies intended to distribute tourism activity across more seasons and destinations, as well as the implementation of the Spain Tourism Strategy 2030. The cross-government roadmap is designed to strengthen the sector’s long-term competitiveness.
Indonesia is forecast to become one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound travel markets during the next decade.
The Netherlands is expected to record the strongest growth in Travel & Tourism capital investment in Europe, while Rwanda is continuing to develop as one of Africa’s fastest-growing leisure tourism economies.
The report also identified Germany as the location of Europe’s largest Travel & Tourism sector and Malta as the European Union member state with the fastest post-pandemic tourism recovery.
Singapore was highlighted as one of the world’s leading business travel destinations, while Thailand is expected to record some of the strongest growth in visitor spending in Southeast Asia.
WTTC forecasts that Travel & Tourism will contribute US$17.1 trillion to the global economy by 2036 and support almost 89 million additional jobs.
The organisation said government policies facilitating international travel, supporting business confidence and recognising tourism as a strategic economic sector could influence the scale of future growth.
Continued investment in transport, accommodation and destination infrastructure could also support visitor flows, employment and economic activity across tourism markets.
The report noted that geopolitical uncertainty and broader economic pressures will continue to affect the global operating environment.
However, WTTC said the long-term outlook remains supported by rising travel demand, increasing government recognition of tourism’s economic role and accelerating investment across major markets.
Tags: Gloria Guevara, WTTC
