Tourism is a global industry. Every country in the world has tourism activities and travelers among its population who travel the world in search of relaxation, new landscapes, and fun. Tourism is an activity common to different countries around the world, so it is worth taking a closer look at it: in 2025, there were a total of 690 million tourists (January to June) and $11.1 trillion in global tourism revenue. In this article, we take a look at the tourism figures to get an idea of a sector that is constantly changing.

1-A job-creating sector

Worldwide, 10% of jobs are created directly by tourism, including both seasonal and full-time jobs. The tourism sector is one of the top 10 employers on the planet. In both the southern and northern hemispheres, the primary infrastructure used by customers is the same: hotels, restaurants, museums, and amusement parks. This provides a standardized organization and a dynamic and flexible job market for people working in the tourism sector.

2- 690 million (January to June) tourists in 2025

The annual number of tourists varies from year to year: 400 million in 2020, 450 million in 2021, 960 million in 2022, 1.3 billion in 2023, 1.4 billion in 2024, and 690 million (January to June) in 2025. The figure fluctuates depending on global economic conditions and major events during the year.
Traveling is not a basic human need, but it turns out that taking vacations is a social norm imposed by today’s consumerist society: as a result, going on vacation is inevitable.

3- More women than men go on vacation

Statistics show that the proportion of women who go on vacation is higher than that of men: 60% of women compared to 40% of men. This data can be explained by the fact that women in the household take more responsibility for organizing trips, so they are more in touch with tourism products and are more likely to purchase a trip than men.

4-A sector that generates 10% of global GDP

The travel industry is one of the few sectors that is present in every country in the world: rich countries, emerging countries, developing countries, and poor countries are all affected by tourism.
The lion’s share is found in the countries of the North, in the European Union and the United States, with nearly 40% of revenues. The remaining $1,794.18 billion generated by tourism is shared among the other countries of the world. This means that more than just a source of employment, the tourism sector is a creator of wealth.

5- An average budget of €2,000 per person for a vacation

The average budget for a vacation varies considerably depending on the destination, the number of days, and the type of trip, but is estimated at €2,000 on average. This includes accommodation, meals, and activities over a two-week period. It should be noted that this budget is increasing among seniors over the age of 30 and decreasing among young people aged 18 to 24.

6- 10 to 14 days is the number of days needed for a vacation to have beneficial effects.

There is no average length of vacation, as each country has different vacation lengths and each individual uses their vacation time as they see fit. The countries at the top of the list in terms of paid leave are Estonia, Austria, the Netherlands, and Spain. Other countries, such as the United States, Micronesia, and Nauru, do not have a legal guarantee of paid leave. However, although these countries do not have guaranteed vacation time, it is part of popular culture to take breaks in order to start afresh. Ideally, these breaks should last between 10 and 14 days to relieve stress, allow the mind and body to rest, and boost creativity.

7- Land, sea, air, space: four environments where tourism can take place.

Tourism covers all areas that humans can reach, which is one of its distinctive features. This taste for new environments has been apparent since the early days of tourism, with the rise of sea travel and cruises of all kinds. Today, this trend continues with underwater tourism and space tourism. Companies such as Atlantis and The Reef Dancer offer underwater exploration for around €200. Blue Origins offers space travel for around €1.2 million.

8- Plus 5%, an old sector but growing in 2025.

Tourism is a sector that saw its first modern practices around the 16th century, with artists and nobles traveling around Europe to further their education. It emerged as a fully-fledged economic sector in the early 19th century with the creation of the first travel agencies. Since then, the sector has continued to grow, with 690 million travelers (from January to June) in 2025. With more than 400 years of existence, the travel industry is renewing itself and continues to remain relevant. And its figures attest to a sector that is hard at work.