Tourism sector loses nearly $200B

UNWTO has reiterated its call for governments and international organizations to support tourism, a lifeline for many millions, and a backbone of economies.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The sudden and massive fall in tourist numbers threatens jobs and economies. Therefore, the restart of tourism must be prioritized and managed responsibly, protecting the most vulnerable and with health and safety as the sector’s number one concern. Until tourism’s restart is underway everywhere, UNWTO again calls for strong support for the sector to protect jobs and businesses. Therefore, we welcome the steps undertaken by both the European Union and individual countries, including France and Spain, to support tourism economically and build the foundations for recovery.”

While April was expected to be one of the busiest times of the year due to the Easter holidays, the near-universal introduction of travel restrictions led to a fall of 97% in international tourist arrivals. That follows a 55% decline in March. Between January and April 2020, international tourist arrivals declined by 44%, translating into a loss of about US$195 billion in global tourism receipts.