Research commissioned in time for the WTTC America’s Summit in Lima, Peru in September 2014 seeks to understand whether and where the region’s infrastructure and investment will constrain or support future industry growth. The report draws on data from WTTC’s annual Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research 2014 and the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013.

WTTC has forecast that there will be US$3.6 trillion worth of Travel & Tourism investment made in the Americas over the next decade. The analysis produced here shows that a strong and positive relationship exists between Travel & Tourism investment and Travel & Tourism demand. Not surprisingly, given the size and diversity of the Americas, there are huge disparities in the state of Travel & Tourism infrastructure across the countries. Taking the region as a whole, however, Travel & Tourism infrastructure lags behind much of the world. Weaknesses in the current state of the Americas’ Travel & Tourism related infrastructure therefore threaten the growth potential of the sector within the region in the medium term.

Countries across the region need the right business, political and regulatory frameworks in place now to foster necessary infrastructure and investment opportunities. Improving their competitive positions through better infrastructure will help countries ensure that Travel & Tourism will continue to create quality jobs and contribute strongly to their economies well into the future.