Last year was a record-breaking one for international tourism, injecting trillions of dollars into the global economy and supporting millions of jobs. But while more people than ever took to weathered streets of European capitals or sun-soaked beaches on Pacific islands, the U.S. appears to have plummeted down travelers’ bucket lists.
Global travel last year added a record $11.6 trillion to the economy, according to a report released this week by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), an industry body. Tourism’s worldwide value accounted for almost 10% of global GDP, and represented one of the fastest-growing economic sectors in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
