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Investing.com -- This year, international travel spending in Europe is predicted to increase by 11% to $838 billion, according to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). France and Spain are among the countries anticipated to welcome record numbers of tourists.
The positive outlook may be partially due to some tourists choosing to avoid the United States. The WTTC predicts that foreign visitor spending in the U.S. will drop by approximately 7% this year. Julia Simpson, the CEO of the WTTC, indicated in a press briefing that Canadians and Mexicans may decide not to travel to the U.S. due to President Donald Trump’s trade and migration policies or unfavorable currency exchange rates. This could result in more people traveling to Europe instead.
The WTTC, which represents the private sector of the travel industry, projected that tourists will spend 6% more in Spain this year than in 2024, which equates to an additional 113.2 billion euros ($127.7 billion). The number of visitors is expected to surpass last year’s record of 94 million, with estimates ranging from 98 to 100 million. Simpson stated that "Americans will continue to travel abroad ... and they will be very welcome in Spain."
The WTTC report also noted that France is expected to attract more tourists than Spain. However, the U.S. retains its position as the world’s largest travel and tourism market.
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