The APEC Tourism Working Group (TWG) was formed in 1991 as a platform for tourism administrators of APEC economies to share information, exchange views and develop areas of cooperation in tourism, trade and policies to support growth in the region through travel and tourism.
In 2020, the group endorsed its APEC TWG Strategic Plan 2020–2024, covering four priority areas with the following objectives:
- Digital transformation
- Facilitate the uptake of digital and innovative technologies across the travel and tourism supply chain to meet and exceed visitor expectations, increase competitiveness, and expand the benefits of travel and tourism to the entire community
- Human capital development
- Support the development of skills and capabilities (including digital literacy) of employers and employees to deliver high-quality visitor experiences and create career pathways
- Travel facilitation and competitiveness
Support the strengthening of air, sea, road and rail connectivity to meet visitor demand and enhancing regional access; work with relevant authorities to provide secure, efficient and positive visitor experiences at entry and exit.
- Sustainable tourism and economic growth
- Communicate the importance of travel and tourism as an economic driver in APEC economies; and promote better understanding and recognition of travel and tourism as an engine for growth in the APEC region
- Maximize the travel and tourism sector’s contribution to employment, economic development, environmental protection and resilience, cultural and natural heritage preservation and inclusiveness to create economic and social benefits for business and communities in urban and rural areas
The Economic Contribution of Tourism in the APEC Region
In 2018, APEC ministers recognized the economic significance of tourism in terms of regional cooperation, trade, MSME support, job creation, skills enhancement, innovation, and the development of ICT.
Prior to the pandemic, the tourism sector was one of the fastest-growing economic sectors in the world. In 2019, travel and tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for
- USD 9.2 trillion contributed to the world’s GDP or 10.4 percent of global GDP
- 334 million jobs or 1 in 10 jobs around the world
- USD 1.7 trillion in visitor exports (6.8 percent of total exports, 27.4 percent of global services exports)
Severely hit by the pandemic, the tourism sector’s contribution to global GDP has decreased by 49.1 percent, from USD 9.2 trillion in 2019 to USD 4.7 trillion in 2020. The tourism sector’s contribution accounted for 10.4 percent of global GDP in 2019, which declined to a share of 5.5 percent in 2020. The 334 million jobs in 2019 that are connected to the tourism sector have shrunk to 272 million jobs, a decrease of 18.5 percent in 2020.
In the Asia-Pacific region, the tourism sector’s total contribution to GDP suffered a 53.7 percent drop from USD 3 trillion in 2019 to USD 1.4 trillion in 2020. The contribution of the sector in the region accounted for 9.9 percent of the total economy in 2019. This decreased to only 4.6 per cent of the total economy in the Asia-Pacific in 2020. The number of jobs also plummeted from 185.06 million in 2019 to 151.01 million in 2020, an 18.4 percent decrease in total employment in the region.
The tourism sector directly and indirectly contributed to all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals particularly on economic growth and decent work, industry, innovation and infrastructure, and responsible consumption and production.
Last page update: July 2025
Contacts
Lead Shepherd
Philippine Department of Tourism
Deputy Lead Shepherd
International Tourism Division
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Program Director
Current Activities
12th Tourism Ministerial Meeting
The 12th Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM12) was held on 9 June 2024, in Cusco, Peru, chaired by Peru’s Minister of Trade and Tourism, Ms Elizabeth Galdo.
Aligning with Peru’s theme for APEC 2024 of “Empower. Include. Grow”, the main objectives of the TMM12 and related activities were centred on promoting sustainability, innovation and inclusion.
Tourism Ministers from the 21 APEC member economies issued a Joint Statement under the theme of “Innovation and Sustainability: Forging the Future of Tourism in the Asia-Pacific Region”. The statement highlights the need for innovative approaches to address current challenges in the tourism sector, emphasizing the benefits of tourism enterprises’ transition into the formal economy which supports the growth of small and medium enterprises and builds resilience.
Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to building resilient tourism ecosystems that can withstand extreme weather, natural disasters and global health crises, thereby safeguarding livelihoods, preserving cultural heritage and promoting inclusive growth. Additionally, Ministers noted Peru’s work towards the development of a platform aimed at promoting cooperation among APEC economies with respect to sustainable tourism development across the Asia-Pacific region.
63rd Tourism Working Group
The 12th Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM12) and the 63rd Tourism Working Group meeting (TWG63) took place on 6-9 June 2024, in Cusco, Peru.
During the 63rd Tourism Working Group Meeting, preceding the 12th Tourism Ministerial Meeting, member economies assessed the implementation of the current Tourism Strategic Plan (2020-2024) and the way forward in preparing the new Tourism Strategic Plan that will guide the working group’s efforts for 2025-2029. Economies also discussed the transition of tourism players to the formal and global economy and the inclusion of groups with unrealized economic potential in promoting the growth and resilient development of the tourism sector.
The meeting counted the participation of relevant stakeholders, such as the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC); UN Tourism; the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF); the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); World Travel Alliance (WTA); the APEC International Centre for Sustainable Tourism (AICST); among others.
Publications
- Establishing a Safe and Sustainable Future for Travel in the Better Normal – Compendium (February 2024)
- Handbook on Increasing the Readiness and Resiliency of Tourism Destination Stakeholders in Managing Health Crises in APEC Economies (August 2023)
- Tourism Industry of APEC Region in the COVID-19 Recovery Period: Current Situation, Trends and Challenges (April 2023)
- Applying Digital Tools by MSMEs and Individuals in Travel and Tourism Sector under COVID-19 (December 2022)
- Understanding the Role Played by ICT in Disaster Response of MSMEs (August 2022)
- Tourism Access and Inclusion: Best Practice Guidelines for Tourism MSMEs in APEC (April 2022)
- Handbook on Developing Community-Based Entrepreneurship (CBE) in Rural Tourism through Digital Empowerment (February 2022)