WTTC Puts Europe's Travel Economy at Almost USD 3 Trillion
The World Travel & Tourism Council puts Travel & Tourism at almost USD 3 trillion of Europe's gross domestic product in 2025. The council states that is 9.4 per cent of the region's economy. The sector supported 40.7 million jobs, around one in ten of the total.
The figures sit in a report titled Travel & Tourism in Europe: A Deep Dive Into Growth, Outlook and Policy, released at the council's 26th Global Summit in Valletta. The council's own release carries the date 9 October 2026. Hotel News Resource republished it on 12 October 2026.
Countries Outside the EU Carry USD 834 Billion
Countries outside the European Union account for more than a quarter of that contribution, at USD 834 billion. The United Kingdom leads that group as Europe's second-largest Travel & Tourism economy. The council forecasts 3.1 per cent growth for the region in 2026, against 1.1 per cent for the wider European economy.
Eight Priorities for European Governments
The report identifies eight strategic priorities. Each one reviews the policies in place across the European Union and the wider region. The council states the eight align with the global strategic priorities its Executive Council approved. Two of them cover artificial intelligence adoption and connectivity.
Visas and the Schengen Line
Schengen states issued 5.3 million multiple-entry visas in 2025. That is 40 per cent fewer than in 2019, and their share of all visas issued fell from 59 per cent to 51.7 per cent. The council recommends a faster digital Schengen visa, a return to multiple-entry visas, and an EU-wide trusted traveller scheme with reciprocal recognition of programmes such as US Global Entry.
Where the Arrivals Come From
Arrivals from within Europe made up 74.3 per cent of international arrivals to Europe in 2025. Excluding travel inside the region, the travel trade balance moves from a USD 33.9 billion surplus to a deficit of roughly USD 45 billion. Arrivals from Asia-Pacific remain 4.8 per cent below 2019, with China 43.2 per cent below.
Investment Behind 2019
Investment in Europe's sector reached USD 259 billion in 2025, up 7.1 per cent year on year. The figure sits 3.6 per cent below 2019 and behind Asia-Pacific at USD 395 billion and North America at USD 273 billion. The council wants Travel & Tourism recognised as a strategic ecosystem in the 2028 to 2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, with direct access to EU investment instruments.
Emissions, Water and Heat
The sector accounted for 6.3 per cent of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Emissions intensity fell 14.8 per cent between 2019 and 2024. Mediterranean destinations captured 52.2 per cent of Europe's international visitor spending and carry exposure to heat and water stress. The council recommends investment in climate adaptation, faster uptake of sustainable aviation and maritime fuels, and better physical and digital accessibility.
Arrivals to 1.14 Billion
International arrivals to Europe are forecast to reach 1.14 billion by 2036, up from 757.3 million in 2025. The council recommends planning that integrates housing, mobility and local services, a shift from volume targets to value-based targets, and visitor levies that are transparent and ringfenced for destination management.
The Workforce Gap
Young people hold 13.1 per cent of direct jobs in the sector, against 8.3 per cent across the wider economy. The council states demand for workers is outpacing supply, and projects the workforces of Germany and Greece will fall 26 per cent and 27 per cent short of demand by 2035. It recommends apprenticeship pathways, wider recognition of the Hospitality and Tourism Skills Passport, and early completion of the UK-EU Youth Experience Scheme.
The Region at a Glance
Europe remains the world's leading region for international tourism, with 757.3 million international overnight arrivals in 2025, or 49.1 per cent of the global total, and USD 835 billion in international visitor spending, or 41 per cent of the world total.
The council gives Germany as the region's largest Travel & Tourism economy at USD 566 billion, followed by the United Kingdom at USD 380 billion, France at USD 312 billion and Spain at USD 291 billion. Spain leads Europe on international visitor spending at USD 130 billion, with in-destination spending per visitor of USD 796, or 1.7 times the European average.
Malta, the Summit Host
The release names Malta, the host of this year's Global Summit, among the region's strongest performers. The sector contributed USD 4.6 billion to the Maltese economy in 2025, up 16.8 per cent against 4 per cent for the wider economy, and accounted for one in five jobs. International visitor spending reached USD 3.9 billion, or 47.5 per cent above 2019.
The Policy Window
The report places its recommendations against three live policy tracks. Countries across Europe are rolling out national tourism strategies. The European Commission is preparing the Union's first dedicated tourism strategy. Negotiations continue on the EU's 2028 to 2034 Multiannual Financial Framework. The release also cites the European Parliament's April 2026 resolution on tourism as a strategic economic sector, and the Council's May 2026 conclusions.
The Decade Outlook
Over the next decade the council forecasts Travel & Tourism's contribution to Europe's gross domestic product to grow at an annualised 2.2 per cent. That reaches USD 3.8 trillion by 2036 and supports more than 50 million jobs, or 8.3 million more than in 2026.
Gloria Guevara, president and chief executive of the World Travel & Tourism Council, said: “Europe already welcomes almost half of the world's international travellers.” She named faster digital visas, more visitors from beyond Europe, stronger investment and a skilled workforce among the areas where policy can make the greatest difference. “The choices governments make now will decide how much of that growth comes here,” she said.
The council produces its Economic Impact Research with Oxford Economics and with Chase Travel, its lead research partner.
The Day-Use Lines the Report Does Not Carry
The report carries no day-use line. It states no hourly rate, no daytime window and no part-day revenue figure. The USD 3 trillion contribution, the 40.7 million jobs and the 757.3 million arrivals are annual aggregates across full-stay travel.
Europe's Day-Use Shelf
Dayuse.com publishes its city list in a sitemap. That file carried 10,973 entries across 41 country paths on 15 October 2026, and 5,164 of those sit under European country paths. France carries 1,226, Germany 1,089, Italy 992 and the United Kingdom 566, with Belgium at 263, the Netherlands at 225 and Switzerland at 210. The platform's hotels sitemap carried 11,878 property pages across 30 country paths, with 6,067 under European country paths.
A daytime operator prices part of the same room against the overnight market the report measures. The day-use rate card sits with each property.