by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 10:20 AM ET, Wed March 4, 2026
The future of travel and tourism is expected to shift alongside a $12.5 trillion projected investment across the G20 major economies, according to a new report by The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
The new report, Bridging the Gap: Travel & Tourism Capital Investment and Demand Growth Across the G20, was created in partnership with Oxford Economics and was released at ITB Berlin.
According to the report, travel and tourism demand across the G20 countries and Spain will grow at 3.3 percent annually over the next decade, with capital investment rising 4.6 annually.
Yet the WTTC report also shows a stark reality: investment must align with immediate travel demands to be meaningful.
“Travel & Tourism is entering a new decisive decade for infrastructure and competitiveness,” said Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC. “Countries that align investment with future demand are strengthening their economic resilience and securing long-term growth. Germany and Spain show how strategic, forward-looking investment can enhance connectivity and support jobs. As demand continues to expand, maintaining this momentum will be critical to ensuring sustainable growth across the G20.”
Following the pandemic, demand has grown stronger than investment, creating problems from overcrowding to capacity pressures and infrastructure strain on destinations worldwide. However, by 2033, investment is expected to outpace travel demand—an opportunity for the industry.
Some destinations are leading the way for the future of the travel industry. Germany and Spain are two of these leaders.
Germany is planning to invest $543 billion through 2035, while Spain has committed $349 billion towards tourism resiliency and infrastructure.
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