US$12.5 trillion in Travel and Tourism Investment Drive to Shape G20 Competitiveness through 2035

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reveals that US$12.5 trillion in projected Travel & Tourism investment across major economies will play a decisive role in shaping competitiveness and economic growth through to 2035.

Scale of Investment
- US$12.5 trillion projected investment across major economies by 2035.
- Investment growth forecast: 4.6% annually (CAGR) from 2025–2035.
- Demand growth forecast: 3.3% annually over the same period.

The Strategic Gap
- In the near term, demand recovery outpaces investment, creating risks of overcrowding and infrastructure strain.
- From 2033 onward, investment is expected to exceed demand, strengthening resilience.

Country Leaders
- Germany: US$543 billion investment planned, ratio of 1.39 (investment vs. demand growth).
- Spain: US$349 billion investment, ratio of 1.46, positioning itself as a highly competitive destination.

Key Themes
- Infrastructure focus: Transport connectivity, sustainable upgrades, and capacity expansion.
- Resilience: Aligning investment with demand to avoid bottlenecks.
- Collaboration: WTTC calls for stronger public-private partnerships to ensure measurable economic returns.

Implications
- Countries investing ahead of demand will secure stronger competitiveness.
- Those lagging risk capacity pressures and missed opportunities.
- The report frames the next decade as decisive for tourism infrastructure and competitiveness.