The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has released its latest ranking of global tourism powers. Despite Iran’s rich historical, cultural, and natural attractions, the country remains absent from both the global and regional Middle East rankings. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is emerging as a rising tourism power in the region.
At its 25th Global Summit in Rome, the WTTC emphasized that Europe continues to lead international tourism, with five European countries among the world’s top ten tourism markets in terms of contribution to GDP.
According to ISNA, the report highlights Europe as the central hub of global tourism. Italy’s tourism sector reached $248.3 billion last year, while Germany, the world’s third-largest tourism market, contributed around $525 billion to its GDP in 2024. The United Kingdom, despite losing £2.2 billion in foreign tourist spending last year, added $367 billion to its economy, maintaining its position as one of the most dynamic tourism markets worldwide.
France, the world’s most visited country, earned over $289 billion from tourism in 2024, while Spain, ranking second globally, added $270 billion to its economy.
Gloria Guevara, interim CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), commented: “These figures highlight both the strength and the opportunities within the tourism sector. The United States remains the largest tourism market globally, China is making a strong comeback, Europe continues to lead, and destinations in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa are achieving record milestones. We anticipate that the sector’s contribution will reach a historic $2.1 trillion in 2025—$164 billion higher than the 2019 record.”
United States Maintains Its Status as the World’s Largest Tourism Market
The latest report shows that the United States continues to lead the global tourism market, contributing roughly $2.6 trillion to its GDP in 2024. Domestic tourism remains the strongest in the world, supporting millions of jobs.
However, spending by international visitors is expected to drop by $12.5 billion in 2025, limiting the country’s growth to just 0.7 percent. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has warned that without traveler-friendly policies, visa facilitation, and effective promotion of destinations, the U.S. could lose its competitive edge.
China, the world’s second-largest outbound tourism market, added approximately $1.64 trillion to its economy in 2024. It is projected to contribute another $260 billion in 2025, marking a 22.7 percent increase—underscoring China’s strong rebound and central role in shaping global travel trends.
Japan, ranking fifth in the global tourism economy, contributed nearly $310.5 billion in 2024, with an expected increase of $13.8 billion in 2025, bringing its total close to $325 billion.
Middle East Tourism Continues Rapid Growth
The Middle East remains one of the fastest-growing tourism regions worldwide, with Saudi Arabia emerging as a major global tourism power. The country has experienced a notable rise in inbound tourist spending alongside unprecedented infrastructure investments.
Across the region, projects in airports, cruise terminals, and innovative hospitality developments are underway, reflecting long-term confidence in the Middle East’s potential to become a leading global tourism hub.
The report indicates that tourism supported 357 million jobs in 2024, with projections reaching 371 million in 2025. By 2035, one-eighth of all global employment is expected to be linked to tourism, with 91 million new jobs—mostly in the Asia-Pacific region—representing roughly one-third of all new global positions.
Confidence in the sector remains strong, with global investment exceeding $1 trillion in 2024, a 9.9 percent increase over the previous year, and further growth is expected in 2025. The United States, China, Saudi Arabia, and France alone accounted for more than $500 billion of this investment.
Italy attracted around €11.4 billion in 2024, strengthening its position as one of Europe’s most attractive destinations for sustainable and innovative tourism development.
The 25th Global Summit of the World Travel & Tourism Council is being held from September 28 to 30 (6–8 Mehr) in Rome, Italy.
