For global tourism, a loss of $1.300 billion in 2020 This figure represents "more than 11 times the loss recorded during the 2009 global econo
Coronavirus: For global tourism, an estimated loss of $1.300 billion in 2020
This figure represents "more than 11 times the loss recorded during the 2009 global economic crisis," according to the World Tourism Organization (WTO)
A total difficulty to conceive as it seems huge. As a result of travel restrictions put in place around the world to stem the coronavirus pandemic,the global tourism sector has lost as much as $1.3 trillion (1.071 billion euros) in 2020, the World Tourism Organization (WTO), a Madrid-based Un agency, announced on Thursday.
Another staggering figure: this figure represents "more than 11 times the loss recorded during the global economic crisis of 2009," and corresponds to a 74% drop in tourist arrivals worldwide compared to 2019, says the UNWTO statement.
Asia in the hard
"2020 will have been the worst year in the history of tourism, with 1 billion fewer international arrivals" compared to 2019, says UNWTO. Asia-Pacific experienced the largest drop in arrivals in 2020 (-84% year-on-year), as it was the first to be affected by the pandemic and currently maintains the highest travel restrictions.
For Europe,the decline is 70% over the year, but the continent has experienced "the biggest drop in absolute terms", with 500 million fewer arrivals. The Middle East and Africa experienced a 75% decline and the Americas by 69%. During the 2008-09 crisis, the number of visitors had dropped by only 4%
Up to four years of waiting
According to UNWTO experts, 100 to 120 million direct jobs are at risk in tourism, many in small and medium-sized enterprises. The organization notes a "deterioration in the overall rebound outlook in 2021" and estimates that "it will take two and a half to four years for international tourism to return to 2019 levels."
"We are aware that the crisis is far from over," said Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, quoted in the press release. "The harmonization, coordination and digitization of Covid-19 risk reduction measures in travel, including screening, tracing and vaccination certificates, are fundamental to promoting safe travel and preparing for the recovery of tourism when conditions permit," he adds.
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