Travel and tourism's direct contribution to employment APAC 2023, by country
As one of the Asia-Pacific region's leading industries, the travel and tourism sector in China provided over 77 million jobs in 2023. Likewise, a high number of jobs were also generated in India thanks to the travel and tourism market, with about 43 million jobs. In fact, many Asia-Pacific countries made the worldwide ranking for the most jobs produced by the travel and tourism industry.
Economic contribution
Through the generation of more jobs and increased levels of affluence in many Asia-Pacific countries, citizens now have more money to be able to travel. Domestic and intra-regional travel has created a positive impact on the economy, as overall domestic tourism expenditure has increased, prevalent especially in Southeast Asia. The travel and tourism industry also made significant contributions towards the GDPs of Asia-Pacific countries. As many countries depend on the industry to maintain and stimulate their economies, they are making it easier for travelers to gain access to their countries through relaxing visa requirements and introducing cheaper airlines.
The future of tourism
The Asia-Pacific region has adapted to the current demands of travelers, who increasingly wish for more environmentally friendly methods of travel. Regarding the environmental footprint, the contributions of travel and tourism in the region to the total greenhouse gas emissions has slightly increased year-over-year since 2021, but stayed below 10 percent. The most sustainable travel destinations in APAC were Goyang, South Korea and Singapore, according to the sustainability index. APAC proved itself in terms of growing popularity, as the region demonstrated high tourist arrivals.
