The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that the tourism sector created 7.2 million jobs last year and contributed $7.2 trillion to the global economy.
David Scowsill, President of the WTTC, stated that despite uncertainties regarding the global economy and specific challenges faced last year, the tourism sector grew by 3.7%, contributing a total of 9.8% to the global GDP.
According to an annual economic impact study prepared by the WTTC, the direct contribution of tourism to GDP growth exceeded the general rate of GDP growth in 127 of the 184 countries included in this report.
Among the countries where tourism performed significantly better than the economy in 2015 are Iceland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Uganda.
For this year, it is estimated that the total contribution of the tourism sector to GDP will increase by 3.5% and, for the sixth consecutive year, is expected to exceed the general growth rate of the global economy.
The WTTC estimates that in the next decade, tourism will outperform the global economy, with an average growth of 4% per year.
Source: Capital
Frequently Asked Questions
What was tourism’s contribution to global GDP in 2015?
Tourism contributed 9.8% to the global GDP in 2015, totaling approximately $7.2 trillion.
How many jobs did the tourism sector generate according to the WTTC?
The tourism sector created approximately 7.2 million jobs globally during 2015.
What are the WTTC’s forecasts for the next decade?
The WTTC estimates an average annual growth of 4% for the tourism sector over the next decade, outperforming the global economy.