US Still Number One: WTTC

In newly released research, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) found that despite a standstill in international visitors from China, the United States has retained its status as the world’s largest travel and tourism economy.

The WTTC’s research found that the United States remained the biggest travel and tourism market in the world in 2018 with the sector contributing almost $1.6tn to GDP. This translates to 7.8% of US GDP with the sector growing by 2.2% (accounting for inflation) last year.

After registering average annual growth of 23% over the previous decade, Chinese travel to the US was flat last year partly due to trade tensions between the two countries.

International visitors from China account for 4% of total US visitors but 11% of all spending, demonstrating their economic importance to the country.

WTTC president & CEO, Gloria Guevara, said: “The US continues to be the largest travel economy in the world registering growth of 2.2% last year. However, after recording ten years of stellar growth, international visitor numbers from China were flat year on year, caused in part by the deteriorating trade relations between the two countries. Given the economic importance of Chinese visitors, any thawing in the trade relations between the two countries would have a positive effect for the wider US economy.”

This year’s analysis for the United States shows that the direct, indirect, and induced impact of travel and tourism accounted for:

• $1,595 billion, 7.8% of United States GDP (2.2% real annual increase)
• 15.6 million jobs
• $198.8 billion in spending by international visitors (0.9% annual decrease)

Guevara pointed out that: “Travel & Tourism, has been a consistent driver of employment in the United States. The sector creates jobs, drives exports and generates prosperity. Its continued resilience and our projections for growth serve to highlight the importance of the industry to the US economy. The US is the biggest travel market in the world, the sector is integral to the country’s broader economic performance and must be prioritized.”

In order to strengthen the US travel sector and ensure it remains both robust and competitive, WTTC recommends that US policymakers focus on:

• Preserving Brand USA: We support the renewal of Brand USA this year – a program with broad bipartisan support—beyond its current 2020 authorisation to continue marketing the US as a premier global Travel & Tourism destination.
• Expanding, re-branding the US Visa Waiver Program: With its bilateral security and travel facilitation benefits, we support the re-branding of the VWP as the “Secure Travel Partnership Program” and its expansion beyond the current 38 participating nations to other qualified countries.
• Modernizing US airport and other infrastructure: WTTC recognizes the importance of world-class travel and tourism infrastructure — particularly airports.
• Biometric passenger identification: WTTC recognizes and supports the biometric passenger identification and processing initiative, an area where the US is leading the world. The work being undertaken by US Customs and Border Protection for the roll-out of a seamless traveller experience is helping us to transform the passenger experience, enhance security and create jobs.

For more, go to www.wttc.org.