Europe accounted for one dollar in every three spent on leisure travel globally in 2025, cementing its position as the world’s leading leisure tourism region, according to new data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
The 2026 Economic Impact Research, sponsored by Chase Travel as lead research partner, found global leisure travel spending reached USD 6.15 trillion (AU $8.65t) in 2025, up 3.5 per cent year-on-year and accounting for 80.5 per cent of total global travel expenditure. Europe captured USD 2 trillion of that total.
Southern European destinations were central to the result, with France, Spain, Italy and Türkiye continuing to draw strong international demand, diverse source markets and robust connectivity. Leisure spending growth remained resilient across the region in 2025, with France expanding 3.6 per cent, Spain 2.6 per cent and Italy 2.2 per cent. WTTC noted the region’s growth was also being supported by evolving global travel patterns, with Southern European destinations increasingly benefiting from demand redirected from other regions.
Europe’s momentum is forecast to continue into 2026, with the region expected to grow 3.7 per cent, ahead of the global average of 3.1 per cent. Italy is projected to lead that growth with a 4.7 per cent increase in leisure spending, followed by Spain (4.3 per cent), Türkiye (4.1 per cent) and France (2.6 per cent).
WTTC president and chief executive Gloria Guevara said Southern Europe remained the engine of the region’s growth.
“Destinations such as Spain, Italy, France and Türkiye continue to attract strong international demand thanks to their unique visitor experiences, excellent connectivity and competitive tourism offerings,” Guevara said.
Guevara said continued investment would be needed to sustain the momentum.
“With millions of travellers currently holidaying across the continent, it is essential that destinations continue investing in infrastructure, connectivity and sustainable tourism management to support future growth and maintain their global competitiveness,” she said.
