TL;DR
- Global gross bookings reached $1.67 trillion in 2025, comfortably past pre-pandemic levels
- Growth is settling to around 4% annually in Europe and the US, while Asia Pacific remains the clear growth engine
- Nearly a quarter of travellers now use AI tools for trip planning, spanning all age groups
- International visitor growth is expected to accelerate to 8% this year, driven by improving consumer sentiment
- Travel now contributes $12 trillion to global GDP, supporting 371 million jobs worldwide
The Numbers Behind The Headlines
A new set of global travel figures landed recently, and they paint a reassuring picture.
The global travel market reached approximately $1.67 trillion in gross bookings during 2025. That’s comfortably past pre-pandemic levels. International visitor spending climbed to a record $2.1 trillion globally, and the sector now contributes roughly one in every 10 dollars spent worldwide to global GDP. That comes to about $12 trillion supporting 371 million jobs across the industry.
Regionally, the stories are different. Europe is settling after two years of rapid expansion, with growth becoming incremental rather than explosive. Asia Pacific remains the clear growth engine, representing the largest share of new bookings heading into 2026. Emerging markets in Latin America are also accelerating from smaller bases, adding fresh momentum.
Quick Context
The steadier growth rate is more reassuring than worrying. While the explosive post-pandemic surge has cooled, demand remains strong and resilient. After years of unpredictable swings, a more settled market makes it easier to plan ahead and manage client expectations.
Online Travel Agencies now generate roughly one in four travel dollars worldwide, with about $408 billion in global bookings.
International visitor growth is expected to pick up to 8% this year. Improving consumer sentiment and China’s outbound market recovery are both helping.
The Digital Planning Piece
One interesting detail in the data: nearly a quarter of travellers now use AI tools for trip planning. This spans all age groups, not only younger demographics. The continued growth of personalised bookings shows that travellers still value expert guidance when making final decisions.
Traveller priorities are moving noticeably toward value-for-money and wellness experiences. That’s not about budget travel. It means people want to feel their investment is worthwhile, which is where personal expertise in matching clients with the right experiences becomes so valuable.
The Booking Angle
Asia Pacific continues to lead as the growth region, which could be useful context if you’re building destination knowledge for the year ahead. Latin America is picking up pace too, and worth keeping on your radar.
Consumer sentiment is improving despite broader economic headwinds, which suggests travellers are continuing to prioritise holidays in their spending. Worth a proper read if you’re planning ahead for the coming months.
