Travel and tourism to generate 9 crore jobs by 2035: WTTC

The W orld Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has projected that the international travel and tourism sector will support 9.1 crore new jobs globally over the next decade, accounting for one in every three new jobs worldwide. For India, the report warns of a potential shortfall of 1.1 crore workers by 2035 if skill gaps and structural challenges are not addressed.

The WTTC’s report, ‘Future of the Travel and Tourism Workforce’, was released at the 25th WTTC Global Summit in Rome. It is based on extensive global research, including surveys of business leaders and interviews with key stakeholders in 20 major economies. Gloria Guevara, WTTC Interim CEO, said, “Travel and tourism is set to remain one of the world’s biggest job creators, offering opportunities for millions of people worldwide.”

This report highlights, in 2024, the sector’s GDP contribution grew 8.5% to USD 10.9 trillion, surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 6%. 20.7 million jobs were created globally in 2024 alone, bringing the total workforce to 357 million. However, by 2035, labour demand is expected to outpace supply by 4.3 crore globally, leaving workforce availability 16% below required levels. Major shortfalls are project ed in China (1.69 crore), India (1.1 crore), and the EU (64 lakh).

However opinions differ and while the report paints a picture of booming growth, several challenges question whether these job targets can be realistically achieved. India’s projected 1.1 crore shortfall indicates that jobs may exist in theory but not in practice unless skills and training programs are massively scaled. Digitization is transforming tourism; AI, online platforms, and virtual experiences are creating new tech-driven roles, but automation is also reducing traditional positions like ticketing and front-desk jobs.

Investment in infrastructure is another key factor. While Europe and the Middle East are advancing rapidly, many parts of India still lack connectivity and hospitality infrastructure, potentially limiting employment absorption. Tourism is also highly sensitive to economic slowdowns, pandemics, geopolitical tensions, and climate change, all of which could curb growth and job creation.

Tourism is undeniably a powerful engine for employment, but achieving the WTTC’s projections, especially India’s 1.1 crore jobs, is highly ambitious. Without focused policy measures, skills training, technology adoption, and infrastructure development, these targets may remain numbers on paper. The sector’s potential can only be realized if India bridges the gap between opportunity and reality, preparing a skilled, tech-savvy, and future-ready workforce.