The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2023 Global Trends Report has revealed an encouraging resurgence in travel & tourism investment, overcoming pandemic setbacks and signaling a strong return to growth.
From 2010-2019, investment grew steadily at 4.3% CAGR, growing from $754.6 billion in 2010 to $1.1 trillion in 2019, or 4.5% of all economy-wide investment. COVID-19 hit hard, leading to a 24% decline in 2020 and a further 8% in 2021.
However, 2022 marked a turning point.
Spurred by the global phenomenon of pent-up demand, travel & tourism investment surged to $856 billion, up 11.1% from the previous year. Although this was 22.5% short of 2019 levels, this was still 53% higher in 2022, than it was in 2000.
In regions like Asia-Pacific and Africa, 2022 investment was 161% higher than in 2000, while Europe and the Middle East have shown more restrained growth. In these regions, the pandemic has undone much of the significant growth achieved in the last two decades.
Nevertheless, travel & tourism investment in these regions in 2022 stayed above the levels seen in 2000.
The U.S. leads the top ten markets in terms of absolute investment in the sector in 2022 with $213 billion, showing a sector ready to thrive once again. China trails with a $146 billion investment in 2022, with Saudi Arabia rounding out the top three with total investment of $42 billion in the same year.
Island destinations led the top spots for travel & tourism investment as a total percentage share of their economies in 2022. The U.S. Virgin Islands led the way channeling 35% of total economic investment into travel & tourism, followed closely by Antigua & Barbuda at 34% and Aruba at almost 32%.
Private investment in new aircraft, hotels, and car fleets is essential for boosting the sector’s capacity. Public investment complements this growth, and together the combined investments create a powerful synergy.
The ripple effect is more jobs, bigger economies and stronger communities.
“Investment in travel & tourism is not just a numbers game; it is the heartbeat of global connectivity and economic revival,” said Julia Simpson, president/CEO, WTTC. “Despite the setbacks from the pandemic, 2022’s growth is a promising sign of what’s to come. Investment in travel & tourism is integral to the world’s recovery and growth. The sector’s resilience and potential for innovation continue to drive us forward. We remain confident, yet vigilant, in our pursuit of a brighter, more connected global future.”
A look into the future
WTTC forecasts robust 11.5% growth in investment in 2023, amounting to $955 billion, with a return to pre-pandemic levels anticipated by 2025. By 2033, WTTC forecasts a promising 6.1% average annual growth globally, with the strongest annualized growth rates projected to be in Asia-Pacific and the Caribbean.
However, the global hike in interest rates creates challenges for future investment. With central banks increasing interest rates to combat rising inflation, the cost of borrowing and products increases.
Higher interest rates could present a risk to future investment in the sector so it’s crucial that the public and private sectors work together to innovate to ensure the continual strengthening of this vital sector.
