Globetrotters were on the move last year, as a newly released report found that the travel industry made up nearly 10 percent of the global economy in 2013, and is expected to grow even stronger this year.

According to the 2014 Economic Research Impact report produced by the World Travel & Tourism Council, the global travel industry grew for the fourth consecutive year, outpacing the wider economy in nearly all key sectors like retail, financial and business services, transport and manufacturing.

The report singled out Southeast Asia as the global leader, with economic growth pegged at nearly eight percent, and employment growth at four percent.

The report noted that China is expected to post the highest growth of any G20 country this year, at 8.3 percent.

Indonesia takes off

Rising interest in Indonesia as a tourist destination and a move from an agriculture to service-based economy has helped the country record the largest economic growth in the tourism sector of all G20 countries.

Indonesia's travel and tourism economy in 2013 grew at 8.4 percent, spurred by the 8.7 million visitors to the country.

In spending, that translates to $10.28 billion across categories such as business, leisure and transport, and a growth in international visitor spending at 15 percent and 7 percent in domestic growth.

"Indonesia is expanding its economy rapidly and, as a result, the burgeoning middle class is travelling for business and leisure," said David Scowsill, president and CEO of WTTC in a statement.

In addition to the shift from an agriculture to service-based economy, Scowsill also points out that the devaluation of the Indonesian rupiah against the US dollar is likewise spurring increased international visits to the country.

The travel industry's contribution to the Indonesian economy is projected to grow a further 8 percent, outperforming the country's general economy by 2.8 percentage points.

Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, comprised of 13,466 islands. Bali, Sumatra and Java are among the country's most popular travel destinations.

International tourism grows

International visitor spending overall on business, leisure and transport also rose by 4 percent to total $1.3 trillion.

Spending also increased notably in Southeast Asia, rising 10.2 percent over the previous year.

Who's doing much of the spending?

Chinese, Russian, Brazilian, Indonesian, Turkish, and Egyptian travelers abroad.

Where are they spending their hard-earned cash?

According to the report, they're spending in countries like the US, the UK, Thailand, Turkey, Japan, Greece, Russia and Indonesia.

"The year 2013 has been a really good year with strong demand from long-haul markets," said WTTC CEO David Scowsill, who added that projections for 2014 look even "sunnier" with rising incomes and falling unemployment rates in many countries spurring spending.