How Travel & Tourism can be a force for good

Travel and tourism accounts for 10% of jobs worldwide

Travel & Tourism values what is most precious in our world- our environment, wildlife, history, culture, and our people. It can be a great catalyst for growth in local economies, providing good-quality jobs, opportunities for innovation and business creation and funds for conservation- and ultimately having a tremendous social impact. It also supports diversity and inclusion, employing and offering opportunities to people and communities from all walks of life, including minorities, youth, and women.

Here are a few insights to show you how Travel & Tourism truly makes a difference to millions of people’s lives and their livelihoods:

• Travel & Tourism accounted for 10.4% of employment in 2019; that is 1 in 10 jobs on the planet.

Tourists being transported on a traditional raft

• Globally, for every 34 international visitors to a destination, 1 new job is created.

Women make up over half of the world’s Travel and Tourism employee base

• Women account for 54% of Travel & Tourism’s employment worldwide, specifically in accommodation food services, and the tourism sector has almost twice as many women employers as other sectors. Not only is it a driver of diversity and creates opportunities for inclusion.

There are many beneficial knock-on effects of Travel and Tourism, especially in the hospitality and food sector

• For every $1 generated in direct Travel & Tourism GDP globally, more than $2 is generated on an indirect and/or induced basis. That means that Travel & Tourism has a multiplier effect.

A quaint ice-cream shop - every tourist’s dream!

• Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises account for 80% of the Travel & Tourism sector, highlighting how the sector drives innovation and entrepreneurship. Think of that small business you encountered on your last trip: it could be the local backpacker’s you stayed with, a local artisan you bought jewellery from or a community programme where you learnt to make a traditional meal with a local person. Amazing small businesses like that are a big part of the sector and your trip helps those businesses and employees in big ways.

Smaller nations can benefit from a transfer of wealth

• Thanks to Travel & Tourism, Small Island Developing States, which account for less than 1% of the global population, received nearly 5% of total global international spending. Quite simply, Travel & Tourism help transfer wealth and supports the growth of nations and communities, especially the smaller ones. If you are already planning a trip for when you feel comfortable to travel, consider what a big impact your holiday on a small island can do for the local economy.

Traditional bread making

• 1 direct job in Travel & Tourism creates a total of 3 jobs. You may wonder how this is possible.  Well, for every direct job created in Travel & Tourism globally, nearly 2 new jobs are created on an indirect or induced basis.

Pandas are one of many species whose futures can be improved by responsible tourism

Let’s not forget how Travel & Tourism can positively support wildlife conservation, from generating income to help protect endangered species to helping encourage government investment in conservation.

Taking a trip is wonderful and knowing that trip can be a force for good makes it even better! Read our new paper on social impact for more information and some great real-life examples of how Travel & Tourism can be a force for good.

Written by Tiffany Misrahi, VP Policy and Lethabo-Thabo Royds, Content Programme Co-Ordinator World Travel & Tourism Council