Tourism: The Invisible Engine

Following the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic the tourism sector continues to recover and begins to look ahead. Data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WWTC) shows that global tourism grew by 6.7% in 2025 compared to 2024, underlining the scale of the sector as one of the most relevant engines for the global economy and consolidating tourism as a key pillar of economic recovery and expansion following the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Often regarded as an ‘invisible export’ tourism is the fourth largest EU export category and European success in tourism boosts demand for all tourism-related services – from accommodation and transport, to gastronomy, cultural activities and leisure – generating multiplier effects across multiple productive chains. According to the Word Travel and Tourism Council, the travel and tourism sector employs 40.7 million people, 3.3% of the total EU employment, and contributed 2.6 % to EU GDP in 2025.

They also predict 2.5 million new EU jobs will be created by the sector by 2035, 1 in 7 of all new jobs.

Europe remains a global leader in tourism and the world’s top tourist destination despite global travel becoming generally more sensitive to geopolitical developments and cost pressures, with the sector projected to contribute 10.5 % to the EU’s GDP, following strong momentum in early 2025.

The Renew Europe Group is committed to reflecting the cross-cutting nature of the sector across all relevant EU policies, aligning legislation on transport, the environment, local and regional development, culture and cultural heritage, digitalisation, competitiveness, employment, education and access to affordable housing, and drawing on expertise from all these fields.