Travel & Tourism in LAC Set to Add US$206BN to Regional Economy Over the Next Decade, Says WTTC
- The World Travel & Tourism Council (), in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), announced the launch of the Tourism Task Force during the Plenary Meeting of the Americas Business Dialogue (ABD) – a public-private platform to elevate Travel & Tourism as a key driver of growth, jobs, and resilience across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
The Task Force will convene throughout 2025 to shape policy recommendations and investment strategies. Its conclusions will be presented at the CEO Summit of the Americas in Punta Cana this December, offering a blueprint for regional collaboration in Travel & Tourism.
The launch comes at a critical moment, as WTTC unveils new figures that highlight the growing importance of the Travel & Tourism sector to the region’s prosperity.
According to the latest (EIR), produced in collaboration with Oxford Economics, Travel & Tourism contributed US$714 billion to LAC’s economy in 2024, accounting for 10% of the region’s total GDP. It also supported 28.2 million jobs, or one in every 11 jobs across the region.
International visitors spend reached US$144.4 billion last year, providing a vital source of export income for many national economies.
Travel & Tourism is one of the most powerful levers for inclusive economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean.The region has a generational opportunity to put Travel & Tourism at the centre of their development agenda. With the ABD Task Force now in place, we can drive smarter investment, unlock growth, and deliver jobs and opportunity at scale. Christopher Imbsen, WTTC VP Policy
This launch marks a milestone in the integration of tourism into the productive agenda of the IDB and IDB Invest, recognizing its transformative potential for the region. In collaboration with our private sector partners and WTTC, we are working to deliver concrete results: more investment, jobs, and regional growth. Fabrizio Opertti, IDB Sector Manager of Productivity, Trade, and Innovation
Looking ahead, the next decade offers unprecedented opportunity. By 2035, the Travel & Tourism sector could contribute US$944.8 billion to the regional economy and support more than 35.4 million jobs. Compared to 2025, this would represent an additional US$206 billion in economic value and 6 million new jobs, reflecting the sector’s unique ability to scale inclusive and sustainable growth.
To unlock the sector’s full potential, WTTC highlights five core enablers for sustainable tourism growth in LAC: talent and employment, resilient infrastructure & connectivity, digital transformation, business environment and access to finance.
However, challenges persist. Tourism investment across LAC continues to trail behind global benchmarks. Creating a more investment-friendly environment will be crucial, demanding bold reforms, improved regulation, and stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors.
With the ABD Tourism Task Force now in motion, the region has a unique opportunity to place Travel & Tourism at the heart of its long-term development agenda.
* All figures are in USD. * “Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)" includes Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, as defined in WTTC’s Economic Impact Research
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the IDB works with the region’s public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries. Visit our website: https://www.iadb.org/en.
The Americas Business Dialogue (ABD) is an initiative led by the private sector and facilitated by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that fosters a high-level exchange between governments and the private sector of the Americas on policies that promote development and sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector.
