Overview of Tourism Performance in North America
Recent data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), sponsored by Chase Travel, shows that Mexico led North America in several key tourism indicators in 2025. The WTTC’s Economic Impact Research (EIR) found that Mexico’s travel and tourism GDP grew by 1.8% in 2025, outpacing the United States (0.9%) and Canada (1.2%). While the U.S. remains the world’s largest travel and tourism economy, its growth rate has slowed compared to Mexico.
International Visitor Spending and Arrivals
Mexico also recorded the highest growth in international visitor spending in the region, increasing by 3.5% in 2025. In contrast, the United States and Canada saw declines of 4.6% and 3.5%, respectively. International visitor arrivals to Mexico rose by 6.1%, while arrivals fell by 5.5% in the U.S. and 0.6% in Canada during the same period.
Global and Regional Economic Impact
On a global scale, the WTTC forecasts that travel and tourism will contribute $12 trillion to the world economy in 2026, accounting for 9.9% of global GDP and supporting 376 million jobs. Over the next decade, global travel and tourism GDP is expected to grow at an annual rate of 3.6%, faster than the projected growth of the wider global economy at 2.4%.
For North America, the sector benefits from strong domestic demand and lower vulnerability to geopolitical disruptions, such as conflicts in the Middle East. The region is less reliant on affected transit routes and source markets compared to other parts of the world.
Upcoming FIFA World Cup and Projected Growth
Looking ahead, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is anticipated to provide a significant boost to travel and tourism across North America. The WTTC projects that in 2026, travel and tourism GDP will grow by 6.4% in Canada, 2.4% in Mexico, and 2.1% in the United States. This growth is expected to reinforce North America’s status as a leading tourism market.
The WTTC notes that the FIFA World Cup offers an opportunity to enhance long-term tourism growth through improved connectivity, better visitor experiences, and increased cross-border cooperation.
Strategic Priorities for Sustained Growth
The WTTC emphasizes the need for continued investment in aviation, tourism infrastructure, digital innovation, and streamlined visitor entry processes to maintain North America’s competitiveness. For Mexico, a focus on connectivity, infrastructure, and visitor experience is seen as essential to consolidating its position as the region’s leading growth market.
Employment and Future Outlook
According to WTTC research, travel and tourism are forecast to support 30.9 million jobs across North America in 2026, representing 12.7% of all jobs in the region. The organization’s data and projections are based on current economic and geopolitical conditions and may change as global circumstances evolve.
Conclusion
Mexico’s tourism sector showed the strongest performance in North America in 2025, outpacing the U.S. and Canada in growth, spending, and arrivals. With major events like the FIFA World Cup on the horizon, the region is expected to see further gains, provided that investment and strategic improvements continue.
