Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

WTTC: U.S. travel and tourism sector to cross $2.5 trillion mark in 2024

Prioritizing visa processing, border queues and staffing is crucial

WTTC: U.S. travel and tourism sector to cross $2.5 trillion mark in 2024

THE TRAVEL AND tourism sector's contribution to the state exchequer is set to surpass $2.5 trillion in 2024, 9 percent of the U.S. economy, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Furthermore, the sector will employ approximately 18.8 million people nationwide, with one in nine Americans working in travel and tourism.

However, focus on visa processing, border queues and staffing issues is essential ahead of the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, the global tourism body recently said.


The WTTC’s 2024 Economic Impact Research found that the sector contributed approximately $2.36 trillion in 2023, registering a 7 percent growth, compared to the previous year’s contribution of $100 billion. Moreover, the sector’s jobs rose by 656,000 to reach 18 million across the country, breaking the previous record of 17.4 million.

Last year, domestic visitors spent $1.37 trillion, up by more than 9 percent from the previous peak in 2019. However, international visitor spending stood at $156.1 billion, which is more than a quarter behind the same 2019 peak.

“The U.S. is breaking all records in travel and tourism, employing 18 million people and boosting the U.S. economy by almost $2.4 trillion,” said Julia Simpson, WTTC’s president and CEO. “The U.S. government has supported travel and tourism, but international visitor spend is still below 2019 numbers. A focus on visa processing, queues at borders, and staffing would give the sector a vital lift in advance of the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics.”

The job sector has now surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with travel and tourism jobs accounting for an 11.2 percent share of the job market with a total of 18 million jobs.

“The travel and tourism sector not only significantly contributes to the generation of jobs but gives opportunities to young people and women of all skill levels,” Simson added.

Domestic visitor spending is anticipated to continue growing, to reach $1.43 trillion, beating the 2019 record by almost 14 percent, the WTTC said. However, international visitor spending is forecast to still be behind 2019 levels. International visitor spending is likely to remain more than $20 billion in 2024 behind its previous peak.

WTTC's Hotel Sustainability Basics program now includes over 1,700 verified hotels spanning 70 countries, assisting hoteliers globally. Leading hotel groups from countries such as France, China, Mexico, India, Germany, South Africa, the Philippines and Norway have joined the initiative.

More for you

Breaking Barriers: Women of Color Power List 2025 Revealed

Breaking Barriers: Women of Color Power List 2025 Revealed

Women of Color Power List 2025 Debuts at AAHOACON 2025

ASIAN MEDIA GROUP USA, publisher of Asian Hospitality magazine, launched the first-ever “Women of Color Power List 2025” at the 2025 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show in New Orleans, honoring 51 women reshaping the U.S. hospitality industry. The publication is the first to spotlight the achievements of women of color, recognizing their resilience, innovation, and leadership.

Asian Media Group Managing Editor Kalpesh Solanki, Executive Editor Shailesh Solanki, and Chief Operating Officer Aditya Solanki announced the list during the conference.

Keep ReadingShow less
AAHOALending.com લોન્ચ 2025

AAHOA, બ્રિજ AAHOALending.com લોન્ચ કરે છે

AAHOA અને બ્રિજે AAHOALending.com ને AAHOACON 2025 માં રજૂ કર્યું

AAHOA અને બ્રિજે AAHOALending.com લોન્ચ કર્યું, જે હોસ્પિટાલિટી પર કેન્દ્રિત ડિજિટલ ધિરાણ પ્લેટફોર્મ છે. તે AAHOA સભ્યોને 150 થી વધુ ધિરાણકર્તાઓની ઍક્સેસ પ્રદાન કરે છે, જેમાં વધુને વધુ લોકોને નિયમિતપણે ઉમેરવાની યોજના છે, આ પ્લેટફોર્મ વપરાશકર્તાઓને ધિરાણ વિકલ્પોની તુલના કરવાની, શ્રેષ્ઠ દરો અને સુરક્ષિત ભંડોળ શોધવાની મંજૂરી આપે છે.

કોફાઉન્ડર અને CEO રોહિત માથુરની આગેવાની હેઠળના બ્રિજને ક્લબ બ્લુ ઇન્ડસ્ટ્રી પાર્ટનર તરીકે નિયુક્ત કરવામાં આવ્યા છે, જે AAHOAના પ્રોગ્રામમાં સર્વોચ્ચ સ્તર છે, તેના 300 ભાગીદારોમાંથી માત્ર 12 જ લાયકાત ધરાવે છે, એમ બંનેએ સંયુક્ત નિવેદનમાં જણાવ્યું હતું.

Keep ReadingShow less
2025માં મંદીની સંભાવના 50 ટકા : HAMA સર્વે

2025માં મંદીની સંભાવના 50 ટકા : HAMA સર્વે

HAMA 2025 સર્વે: 49% મેનેજર્સ મંદીની આશંકા ધરાવે છે

હોસ્પિટાલિટી એસેટ મેનેજર્સ એસોસિએશનના સ્પ્રિંગ 2025 ઇન્ડસ્ટ્રી આઉટલુક સર્વેક્ષણમાં અંદાજે 49 ટકા ઉત્તરદાતાઓ 2025 માં અમેરિકામાં મંદીની અપેક્ષા રાખે છે, જે 2024ના પાનખર સર્વેક્ષણમાં 19 ટકાથી વધુ છે. ટોચની ત્રણ ચિંતાઓ માંગ, ટેરિફ અને DOGE કટ અને વેતનમાં વધારો વચ્ચેનો જોડાણ છે.

HAMA સર્વેક્ષણમાં જાણવા મળ્યું છે કે લગભગ 55 ટકા ઉત્તરદાતાઓએ તેમની વર્તમાન વ્યૂહરચનાના ભાગ રૂપે બ્રાન્ડ અથવા મેનેજમેન્ટ ફેરફારો કર્યા છે અથવા કરવાની યોજના બનાવી છે.

Keep ReadingShow less
AAHOA Bridge AAHOALending 2025

AAHOA, Bridge launch AAHOALending.com

AAHOA and Bridge Unveil AAHOALending.com at AAHOACON 2025

AAHOA AND BRIDGE launched AAHOALending.com, a digital lending platform focused on hospitality. It offers AAHOA members access to more than 150 lenders, with plans to add more regularly, while allowing users to compare financing options, find the best rates and secure funding.

Bridge, led by Cofounder and CEO Rohit Mathur, has been named a Club Blue Industry Partner, the highest level in AAHOA’s program, with only 12 of its 300 partners qualifying, the duo said in a joint statement.

Keep ReadingShow less