Leading global travel markets by travel and tourism contribution to GDP 2019-2021

The total contribution of travel and tourism to the global leading travel markets' gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 2021 over the previous year, after dropping sharply in 2020 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In 2021, the United States reported the highest total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP, with these industries generating, directly and indirectly, roughly 1.27 trillion U.S. dollars. That year, China and Germany followed in the ranking, with travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP amounting to 814 billion and 251 billion U.S. dollars, respectively. Overall, the total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP worldwide increased by nearly 22 percent in 2021 compared to 2020 but remained below pre-pandemic levels.

What is GDP?

GDP is the total value of all goods and services produced in a country in a year. It is considered an important indicator of a country's economic strength, and a positive change in GDP is a sign of economic growth.