Europe’s Travel Sector to Surpass Global Economy Growth by 2026: WTTC Malta Summit
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced that Europe’s travel and tourism sector is set to become a global leader. It is predicted to experience a 3.1% growth in 2026, surpassing both the wider European economy and the sector’s own 2.6% growth recorded last year. These significant figures were revealed at the 26th WTTC Global Summit in Valletta, Malta, which took place at the Mediterranean Conference Centre from October 7–9, 2026.
Over 1,000 delegates attended the summit, including more than 200 global travel and tourism CEOs and government leaders. The summit’s theme, FUTU[RE]SET, sparked discussions on investment, connectivity, technology, and sustainable growth. Europe is predicted to lead in international spending increases, with visitor spending expected to rise by 5.8%, leisure travel by 3.1%, and business travel by 4.2%.
Despite global geopolitical and economic challenges, the travel and tourism sector is expected to grow by 2.5% in 2026, outperforming the broader global economy. The host country of the summit, Malta, is projected to see travel and tourism contribute $4.9 billion to its economy this year. This contribution is equivalent to 16.9% of the country’s GDP and supports more than one in five jobs across the nation. In 2025, Malta recorded the highest annual increase in travel and tourism’s GDP contribution among all European economies, with a growth of 16.8%.
Source: TTR Weekly – WTTC: Europe’s Travel Outpaces Global Economy Outlook