The travel and tourism sector is an important engine for growth and development. Travel and tourism contributes to the preservation of culture, fosters job creation and the development of infrastructure. As an industry , it makes up ten percent of the world’s GDP, one-tenth of jobs, and contributes US$1.4 trillion in exports. The sector is booming: growing at 4% each year in the past seven years, with 1.2 billion international tourists today and 1.8 billion projected by 2030.
The “development” case for tourism is well established. However, there is also value in examining the geopolitical potential of the travel and tourism sector, as an opportunity to further leverage its development impact. Countries should consider approaching travel and tourism from a more strategic lens—as an important instrument to advance diplomacy and security concerns with regard to fragile states . What is unique about this sector? How are countries using travel and tourism strategically? What is the United States’ approach to this sector?
