How Many American Jobs Does the Travel and Tourism Industry Support Quizlet?

By Alice Nichols

The travel and tourism industry is a vital part of the American economy, providing job opportunities for millions of people across the country. But just how many American jobs does this industry support? Let’s take a closer look.

What is the Travel and Tourism Industry?

The travel and tourism industry encompasses a wide range of businesses and services that cater to travelers. This includes everything from airlines and hotels to restaurants, theme parks, and tourist attractions.

According to the U.S. Travel Association, this industry is a major contributor to the American economy, generating over $2.6 trillion in economic output in 2019 alone. In addition, it supports more than 15 million jobs across the country.

How Many American Jobs Does the Travel and Tourism Industry Support?

As mentioned above, the travel and tourism industry supports more than 15 million jobs in America. But what types of jobs are included in this figure?

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were approximately 7.8 million jobs directly related to travel and tourism in 2018. This includes positions such as:

  • Flight attendants
  • Hotel staff
  • Travel agents
  • Tour guides

In addition to these direct jobs, there were also another 7.5 million indirect jobs supported by the travel and tourism industry in 2018. These include positions such as:

  • Restaurant employees
  • Retail workers at tourist attractions
  • Taxi drivers
  • Cleaning staff at hotels and resorts

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Travel Industry

Unfortunately, like many industries, the travel and tourism sector has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. With travel restrictions in place and many businesses forced to close, the industry has seen a significant decline in revenue and job opportunities. Travel Association, the travel industry lost 4.5 million jobs between February and May of 2020 alone. While some areas of the industry are beginning to recover as restrictions ease, there is still a long way to go before the sector returns to pre-pandemic levels.

The Bottom Line

The travel and tourism industry is a major contributor to the American economy, supporting millions of jobs across a variety of sectors. While COVID-19 has had a significant impact on this industry, it remains an important part of our economy and will hopefully begin to recover in the coming months and years.