WTTC report highlights long-term resilience of global tourism sector

International

A new WTTC study based on four decades of crisis data concludes that travel and tourism consistently rebounds after major disruptions and often returns stronger than before

The World Travel & Tourism Council has presented its latest global report, “Accelerating Travel & Tourism Recovery – Global Evidence from Four Decades of Crises”, during its Leadership Cruise event in Egypt. Developed in partnership with Chemonics International and George Washington University Business School, the report analyses more than 40 years of global tourism crises and recovery patterns.

According to the findings, none of the 100 major crisis events examined resulted in the long-term collapse of a destination once the crisis had ended. In most cases, destinations not only recovered, but later exceeded previous growth levels.

The report was officially unveiled aboard the Crystal Serenity while participants transited the Suez Canal during WTTC’s first-ever Leadership Cruise.

Tourism remains a major global economic force

The publication comes at a time when the global tourism sector continues to navigate geopolitical uncertainty while maintaining strong economic momentum.

According to WTTC data, travel and tourism contributed USD 11.6 trillion to global GDP in 2025, representing 9.8 percent of the world economy. The sector also supported 366 million jobs worldwide, equivalent to one in every nine jobs globally.

WTTC’s research highlights the speed with which international travel has recovered following recent crises. After global international arrivals declined by 72 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, worldwide arrivals returned to 1.47 billion by 2024 — matching pre-pandic 2019 levels. International visitor spending reached a record USD 2.02 trillion in 2025.

The report also points to the rapid rebound after the 2008 global financial crisis, when tourism recovered within two years and international visitor spending climbed to USD 1.35 trillion by 2010.

Leadership and coordination seen as decisive

According to the report, the pace of recovery depends largely on government leadership, coordination with the private sector, clear communication and continued investment during crises.

WTTC identifies four central pillars for resilient tourism recovery: restoring traveller confidence, maintaining business continuity, ensuring decisive institutional responses and supporting long-term structural adaptation.

The report further recommends that governments and investors continue supporting SMEs, maintain air connectivity, avoid excessive restrictions and use periods of disruption to modernise and diversify tourism economies.

Leadership Cruise focuses on future growth

WTTC’s Leadership Cruise brought together ministers, former heads of state and tourism industry executives from around the world. Hosted by the Egyptian government, the event focused on strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors to accelerate tourism recovery and long-term growth.

The symbolic transit through the Suez Canal underlined the importance of international connectivity and cooperation for the global tourism industry.

“Today, we are sending a clear and evidence-based message to the world: Travel & Tourism always recovers,” said Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of WTTC. “Even after the most severe crises, people continue to travel, and destinations come back stronger.”

Anna Slother, President of Chemonics International, emphasised the importance of protecting small tourism businesses and local communities during periods of disruption.

Ibrahim Osta, Senior Economic Growth Director and Global Tourism Lead at Chemonics International, added that destinations recovering most successfully were typically those combining strong leadership with coordinated public-private action and sustained support for local tourism economies.