The US remained the largest Travel & Tourism market in the world in 2025 but is losing market share according to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) latest Economic Impact Research, sponsored by its Lead Research Partner, Chase Travel.
While 2025 saw the
best year ever for the Travel & Tourism sector in terms of GDP growth of
4.1%, the story was very different for North America, which was the
slowest-growing region globally, rising just 1.0%, and by only 0.9% in the US.
80 million more people
travelled internationally in 2025 compared with the year before yet they chose
other destinations.
US visitor numbers declined 5.5% against 2024 and international visitor
spending fell 4.6% to $176 billion.
While the US continues to lead in
scale, contributing $2.63 trillion to global GDP, WTTC highlights that the
country is now at a crossroads in its tourism development.
With the right
actions, it has a significant opportunity to restore international visitor
spending, sustain job creation, and strengthen its global leadership -
particularly as competition intensifies from fast-rising markets in Asia
Pacific, such as China.
In 2025, the Travel
& Tourism sector in the US supported 20.4 million jobs, up 1.2%
year-on-year, and added approximately 242,000 new jobs, a positive signal
for both the sector and the wider economy.
Domestic visitor
spending remained strong at $1.54 trillion, up 0.3% year-on-year and 14.3%
above pre-pandemic levels.
Sustaining this
momentum will depend on increasing investment and promotion of the United
States, rebuilding international demand, changing perception and ensuring the US remains competitive
as a global destination.
With the country set
to co-host major football events in 2026, WTTC highlights a significant and
immediate opportunity.
The event is expected
to bring around 1.24 million international visitors during the
tournament period, offering a powerful platform to showcase the American
experience, and convert visitors into promoters of travel to the country.
China, the second
largest market in the world, is rapidly gaining ground, with Travel &
Tourism contributing $1.75 trillion to GDP in 2025, growing 9.9%
year-on-year and supporting 84.6 million jobs (+2.0%).
Both international
visitor spending (up 10.5% to US$135 billion) and domestic spending (up 10.7%
to $890 billion) saw strong gains.
This momentum reflects
the broader strength of Asia-Pacific, now the fastest-growing Travel &
Tourism region globally.
The region’s GDP grew
8.2% in 2025 to reach $3.29 trillion, with several markets outperforming
the global average, led by Malaysia (11.2%) and the Philippines (10.8%),
followed by China (9.9%), India (7.3%), and Indonesia (7.2%).
Gloria Guevara,
President & CEO of WTTC, said: “The
US remains
the largest Travel & Tourism market in the world and has an amazing
foundation. To avoid losing its leadership position the US must invest in
promoting its attractiveness, both in international markets and during the
summer of football; change perception and position the US as a welcoming destination; and grow
international visitor spend, encouraging stopovers and new experiences.”
Jason Wynn, CEO of
Chase Travel, said: “As WTTC’s
latest research shows, the US Travel & Tourism sector continues to
demonstrate remarkable resilience, supporting millions of jobs and driving
trillions of dollars in economic growth even amid global headwinds. With the US set to host a series
of global events through 2028, we have an extraordinary opportunity to welcome
new visitors and bring travellers from around the world closer together,
fostering meaningful connections across countries and communities."
“At Chase Travel, we
are committed to being the go-to partner and provider for both domestic and
international travel, leveraging our world class marketplace to empower
travellers, advisors, and partners to elevate every trip and drive lasting
growth for the industry.”
WTTC will continue
working with governments and industry leaders to support sustainable Travel
& Tourism growth, strengthen competitiveness, and ensure the sector remains
a driver of jobs, investment, and economic opportunity.
Chase Travel remains dedicated to making travel more accessible and rewarding for cardmembers by connecting them to trusted partners, seamless booking and support, and the experiences that matter most. -TradeArabia News Service