Mexico led North America in Travel & Tourism growth in 2025, posting the region’s strongest gains in GDP, international visitor spending, and arrivals, according to 2026 WTTC Economic Impact Research sponsored by Chase Travel.
WTTC’s EIR shows Mexico’s Travel & Tourism GDP rose 1.8% in 2025, ahead of the US at 0.9% and Canada at 1.2%. Mexico also led in international visitor spending growth at 3.5%, with arrivals up 6.1% for the year.
Globally, WTTC forecasts Travel & Tourism will contribute $12TN to the world economy in 2026, equal to 9.9% of global GDP, and support 376 million jobs worldwide. Over the next decade, sector GDP is projected to grow 3.6% per year, 1.5x faster than the wider global economy.
For North America, WTTC notes strong domestic demand continues to drive the sector. Looking ahead, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to boost growth across the region. WTTC forecasts 2026 Travel & Tourism GDP growth of 6.4% in Canada, 2.4% in Mexico, and 2.1% in the United States.
WTTC emphasizes investment in aviation, tourism infrastructure, digital innovation, and smoother visitor entry will help North America stay globally competitive. The organization says the World Cup offers a major opportunity to strengthen connectivity and cross-border cooperation.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, said:
“Mexico’s performance in 2025 shows the strength of its tourism sector and its growing competitiveness. The FIFA World Cup presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for North America to accelerate tourism growth and showcase the region to millions of travelers worldwide.”
WTTC projects Travel & Tourism will support 30.9 million jobs across North America in 2026, 12.7% of all jobs in the region.