According to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) latest Economic Impact Research (EIR), the travel and tourism industry is forecasted to create 4,5 million new European jobs by 2035. These new positions will increase the number of employment opportunities to more than 30 million, highlighting its importance in the EU economy.
The organization also anticipates that the Travel & Tourism GDP contribution will increase to almost €2.3 trillion. Moreover, its economic share is expected to grow to almost 11% within the same timeframe. The European Travel & Tourism sector will continue to perform better than the general economy with a 10-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1,8% compared to 1,3% for the EU economy.
According to the WTTC, spending by international visitors is anticipated to hit €730 billion over the next decade, while domestic spending is forecasted to surpass €1,2 trillion. As a result, the sector will contribute more than €900 billion in tax to EU governments per annum.
In 2025, the Travel & Tourism sector in the EU is projected to generate close to €1.9 trillion in GDP. This will make up 10,5% of the region’s overall economy. It is also expected that this will support nearly 26 million jobs, which will amount to 12% of the total employment in the EU, emphasizing the sector’s increasing influence.
The EU’s Travel & Tourism sector continues to show resilience, driving jobs, innovation, and regional growth.
Julia Simpson, President and CEO of WTTC.
At the first meeting with the global tourism body in Brussels, WTTC welcomed Apostolos Tzitzikostas as the new European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport & Tourism. The WTTC also called this a “landmark moment” for the EU and its citizens. The Commissioner announced the new Sustainable Tourism Strategy and expressed his eagerness to contribute to the development of a plan for the future of the Travel and Tourism sector in the EU.
📍🇪🇺 We're thrilled to welcome Apostolos Tzitzikostas is his new role as European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
— WTTC (@WTTC) April 9, 2025
The introduction of this role is a landmark moment for European #TravelAndTourism, opening up new doors to a more sustainable sector. pic.twitter.com/qFDV0NQDq8
“Appointing a commissioner with a dedicated tourism brief is a strong signal that the EU recognises the sector’s power to support communities and boost prosperity. We look forward to working with Commissioner Tzitzikostas to shape policies that match the sector’s scale and opportunity,” added Simpson.
2025 is also a crucial moment for the sector. The WTTC is getting ready to host its 2025 Global Summit in Rome in September. The event will gather leaders in the industry who will explore topics such as resilience, innovation, and investment.
🇮🇹WTTC’s Global Summit returns!
— WTTC (@WTTC) March 25, 2025
In association with the @MTurismoItalia, @ENIT_italia, & with the participation of the Municipality of Rome & the Lazio Region, Rome will host the next WTTC Global Summit from 28-30 September 2025.
Read more 👉 https://t.co/XZI0dYkdy2#GSRome pic.twitter.com/8WAt7TeraL
In addition to European growth, the Travel and Tourism sector is also expected to grow globally, reaching international visitor spending of $2.1 (€1,89) trillion in 2025. Travel & Tourism is also projected to contribute $11.7 (€10,5) trillion to the global economy which accounts for 10,3% of the global GDP.
