Europe accounted for one in every three dollars spent on leisure travel worldwide in 2025, cementing its status as the world’s top leisure destination as millions of travelers fan out across the continent this summer, according to new 2026 Economic Impact Research data from the World Travel & Tourism Council, sponsored by Chase Travel as lead research partner.
Global leisure travel spending reached $6.15 trillion in 2025, up 3.5 percent year over year and representing 80.5 percent of all global travel expenditure, the WTTC found. Europe attracted $2 trillion of that total.
Southern Europe drove much of the region’s performance. France, Spain, Italy, and Türkiye remained among the most in-demand summer destinations globally, buoyed by strong international demand, diverse source markets, and robust air connectivity. Leisure spending grew 3.6 percent in France, 2.6 percent in Spain, and 2.2 percent in Italy in 2025.
The momentum is expected to carry into 2026, when the WTTC forecasts European leisure spending will grow 3.7 percent, ahead of the 3.1 percent global average. Italy is projected to lead the region with a 4.7 percent increase, followed by Spain at 4.3 percent, Türkiye at 4.1 percent, and France at 2.6 percent. The council also noted that Southern European destinations are increasingly benefiting from demand redirected away from other regions — a trend advisors may want to factor into planning, as sustained demand for Spain, Italy, and Türkiye points to tighter availability and earlier booking windows for peak-season travel in 2026.
“With summer travel at its peak, Europe continues to set the pace for global leisure tourism, capturing one-third of all spending worldwide and demonstrating the strength, diversity and resilience of its tourism sector,” said Gloria Guevara, WTTC president and CEO. “Southern Europe remains the engine of this 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 added that continued investment in infrastructure, connectivity, and sustainable tourism management will be essential for destinations to maintain their competitiveness. “The outlook for 2026 shows Europe is well positioned to continue leading global Travel & Tourism,” she said.
For more information, please visit wttc.org.
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