The USA earns the most money from tourism: over $210 billion per year. This amount is more than triple that of Spain, which earns the second highest amount from tourism globally at $68 billion. France follows closely behind Spain at $61 billion. Other top earning countries are Thailand ($57 billion) and the UK ($51 billion). China rounds off the top 10 tourism revenue earners with $33 billion annually.
Economic Impact of Tourism
The USA’s high tourism income accounts for just 1.1% of its GDP. Comparatively, tourism contributes 5.2% towards Spain’s total GDP. Tourism is crucial for some countries’ economies. For the Maldives, tourism makes up the largest share of GDP.
Tourism Growth and Factors
China has seen substantial tourism growth in recent decades, with visitors increasing from only 250,000 tourists annually to around 50 million today. Italy, known for its history and 44 UNESCO sites, generates $46 billion from tourism yearly. Multiple factors like infrastructure, marketing and cultural attractions contribute to a country’s tourism revenue potential.