# European leisure tourism economic trends

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/european-leisure-tourism-economic-trends
> Updated: 2026-08-18T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

In 2025, Europe established itself as the world’s leading region for leisure tourism, capturing approximately USD 2 trillion in spending. This figure represents one out of every three dollars spent on global leisure travel. Global leisure spending reached USD 6.15 trillion in 2025, with leisure travel accounting for 80.5% of total global travel expenditure.

Southern European destinations, specifically France, Spain, Italy, and Türkiye, acted as the primary drivers for this growth. In 2025, leisure spending increased by 3.6% in France, 2.6% in Spain, and 2.2% in Italy. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) noted that these areas are benefiting from demand being redirected from other global regions, supported by strong international demand and robust connectivity.

Growth is expected to persist into 2026, with Europe projected to grow by 3.7%, exceeding the global average of 3.1%. Italy is forecasted to lead this expansion with a 4.7% increase, followed by Spain at 4.3%, Türkiye at 4.1%, and France at 2.6%.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-18: Europe captures one-third of global leisure travel spending

Europe captured one-third of global leisure travel spending in 2025, totaling USD 2 trillion. Growth is expected to continue in 2026, led by Italy, Spain, Türkiye, and France.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/europe-captures-one-third-of-global-leisure-travel-spend

### 2026-08-06: EU GDP reaches €18.8 trillion in 2025

Eurostat reports EU GDP of €18.8 trillion in 2025, led by Germany (€4.5 trillion, 23.8%), with France and Italy next, while Malta posted the smallest share.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/eu-gdp-reaches-188-trillion-in-2025

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Cite as: European leisure tourism economic trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/european-leisure-tourism-economic-trends