(TAN): The US travel and tourism sector has exhibited remarkable expansion and resilience, according to recent insights from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), ForwardKeys, and Mabrian Technologies. The findings, unveiled in WTTC’s Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2023 Global Trends Report, underline the sector’s substantial growth and its vital role in the economy.
In 2022, the US travel & tourism sector witnessed a significant GDP contribution surge of 16.9%, reaching an impressive USD 2 trillion, accompanied by the creation of 2.7 million new jobs compared to the previous year. Projections for 2023 anticipate further growth, with the GDP contribution expected to reach USD 2.2 trillion and job numbers to total 17.4 million.
This exceptional expansion can be attributed to a resurgence in demand from international visitors, whose spending escalated by over 150% year-on-year, reaching USD 115.7 billion in 2022. Furthermore, domestic visitor spend nearly reclaimed its pre-pandemic levels, reaching USD 1.18 trillion in 2022, closely approaching the USD 1.2 trillion spent by domestic visitors in 2019.
The US led globally in both 2019 and 2022 in terms of economic contribution and spending by international and domestic visitors. The outbound travel trend also indicated a positive trajectory, with ForwardKeys reporting a 13% increase in forward-looking U.S. outbound travel. Key growth destinations included Greece, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Jamaica, and Mexico.
Family-sized groups played a pivotal role in driving this travel recovery, experiencing a growth of 21% compared to 2019. The top international destinations for U.S. visitors comprised Mexico, Canada, and the UK, constituting 52% of all outbound departures in 2022.
US airports mirrored this travel resurgence, with Mabrian Technologies’ statistics revealing increased passenger numbers. Denver International stood out with the highest inbound passenger growth, accommodating nearly 2.2 million more passengers between 2019 and 2023. Orlando International and Harry Reid International Airport followed suit, showcasing rising inbound traffic.
Other major US airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Dallas Fort Worth International, and O’Hare International, are anticipated to rank among the top ten busiest airports in the US in 2023, based on total inbound passenger numbers.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, emphasized the US travel and tourism sector’s significance, highlighting its contribution of USD 9.5 trillion to the global economy in the current year. Even amid challenges like global and European heatwaves, US travellers displayed unwavering interest in southern European destinations, indicating a sustained preference.
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