Traveling and the global economy

Bill Poling of Travel Weekly reports stats on the travel industry’s effect on the global economy. All in all the report shows that the travel industry boosted the global economy and added trillions of dollars to the global GDP. Here’s a tidbit from Poling’s report:

In a report that again depicts the resilience of travel, the World Travel and Tourism Council estimated that the industry’s contribution to global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3% last year, the third consecutive year of growth.

The annual report, produced by Oxford Economics, said the direct contribution of travel and tourism in the global economy came to over $2 trillion, or 2.9% of global GDP. With indirect effects added, the total economic impact of travel and tourism rises to $6.6 trillion, or 9.3% of global GDP.