The economy of tourism
Aviation will contribute 32% of Dubai’s GDP by 2030
10% THE CONTRIBUTION OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM TO CURRENT GLOBAL GDP
Business events HIGH-VALUE POTENTIAL
Local authorities project 3% growth in 2025, supported by Messe Berlin’s continued investment in venue capacity and digital infrastructure. Germany and Berlin A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR Germany entered 2025 as one of the world’s strongest tourism economies, with the sector set to break all-time records in economic output, employment and visitor spending, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The country’s travel and tourism industry was forecast to contribute €499 billion ($579 billion) to GDP – 11.6% of total economic output, well above the global average – and support 6.5 million jobs, equivalent to 14% of national employment. International visitor spending was expected to reach €57 billion ($66 billion), with domestic tourism contributing an additional €425 billion ($493 billion). When the findings were reported in mid-2025, the WTTC’s then President and CEO, Julia Simpson said: “This is a landmark year for travel and tourism in Germany. The sector’s strength underlines its importance to
epicentre, with the sector contributing 27% of Dubai’s GDP in 2023 ($37.3 billion), set to rise to almost one-third (32%) of GDP by 2030. “The UAE is a critical hub for global connectivity. And the benefits of its super connector role brings trade, tourism, investment, and jobs to the UAE. The leadership of the UAE has a strategic vision for aviation, supported by smart regulation and investment in world-class infrastructure,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh. “We can be confident this contribution will strengthen as the UAE continues to facilitate opportunities for aviation to thrive.”
The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector generates some of the highest yields in travel and tourism. In Berlin, the home of ITB Berlin and Messe Berlin, the events and congress industry generated €1.4 billion ($1.6 billion) in 2024, attracting 12.9 million participants, according to the Berlin Convention Office. Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economics, Energy, and Public Enterprises for the state of Berlin, Germany, says: “The events and congress industry is a key economic factor for Berlin.”
Every tourist dollar spent in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park generates up to $2.03 in local income
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