One job will be created every two-and-a-half seconds by the travel and tourism industry over the next 10 years, according to the latest statistics from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
The council, a coalition of chief executives from all sectors of travel and tourism, is predicting that the industry will create a 59% growth in direct and indirect employment worldwide. Some 125 million new jobs will be generated, reaching a total of 338 million in 2005.
Fastest growth is expected in China and South Asia, which already account for half the jobs generated by travel and tourism. Jobs in the region are expected to see a rise of 84.4% to nearly 200 million.
The WTTC report, Travel & Tourism's Perspective, puts into context figures the council produced for the UK last year (Caterer, 29 September 1994).
The UK's employment growth, forecast at 9.6%, will lag behind the 12.5% average for members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (mainly in Europe and the USA). However, the proportion of its employment arising from tourism will be marginally ahead of the OECD average, at 12.2% compared with 11.9%
Some $3,400b (£2,200b) is expected to be generated worldwide by travel and tourism this year, producing 10.9% of indirect GDP. This is expected to grow by 54.6% by 2005.
The report says $655b (£428b) is expected to be contributed by travel and tourism in direct, indirect and income taxes during that period.
- Travel & Tourism's Perspective is available from the WTTC on 0171-222 1955.