UNWTO says international tourism faces worst crisis since records began
World tourism is facing its worst crisis since records were first collected 1950, with new figures from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicting that 1.1 billion fewer people travelling will travel in 2020.
As a result, with global tourism set to see a decline of 80% in international arrivals during the year the livelihoods of up to 120 million people are threatened.
With travel restrictions and airport closures in place around the world, the newly released UNWTO Panel of Experts survey suggests that the wider impact on those who directly rely on tourism for work will represent a financial loss in export revenues of between US$910 billion and US$1.2 trillion.
The predictions are based on UNWTO figures for the first three months of this year, which show a worldwide decline in international arrivals of 22% as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Following the start of the lockdown in many countries, arrivals dropped by 57% for March alone.
Commenting on the findings, UNWTO Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili stated “the world is facing an unprecedented health and economic crisis.
“Tourism has been hit hard, with millions of jobs at risk in one of the most labour-intensive sectors of the economy.”
The figures are in line with the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) predictions of more than 100 million job losses in the global tourism industry sector, with three quarters of these in G20 countries.
Also commenting on the findings, WTTC President and Chief Executive, Gloria Guevara advised “this is a staggering and deeply worrying change in such a short time.
“In just April alone, our research shows an increase of 25 million in the number of job losses in travel and tourism. The whole cycle of tourism is being wiped out by the pandemic. Travel and tourism is the backbone of the global economy. Without it, global economies will struggle to recover in any meaningful way and hundreds of millions of people will suffer enormous financial and mental damage for years to come.”
The impact will vary in different regions at different times, with Asia and the Pacific expected to rebound first. According to the UNWTO survey, some recovery is expected in the final quarter of 2020 and into early 2021, while domestic tourism is expected to recover faster than the demand for international travel.
Global airline revenues are forecast to drop by more than half - US$314 billion - in 2020, according to the latest estimates by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Images: Airline revenues are forecast to drop by more than half in 2020 (top) while issues with overtourism, as evidenced in the Italian city of Venice in recent years, now seem a distrant memory (below).
Related Articles
9th May 2020 - Sabah adopts Tourism Recovery Plan to promote its tourism in wake of COVID-19 crisis
8th May 2020 - New Zealand tourism industry returns to work at Coronavirus Alert Level 2
7th May 2020 - World Expeditions backs concept of Trans-Tasman tourism bubble
5th May 2020 - New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern says no open borders for ‘a long time’
4th May 2020 - ASEAN nations agree tourism cooperation efforts amid Coronavirus pandemic
30th April 2020 - ATEC part of new Tourism Restart Taskforce to strengthen industry COVID-19 response
28th April 2020 - PATA anticipates 32% fall in Asia Pacific visitor numbers through 2020 but predicts resurgence in 2021
28th April 2020 - GlobalData warns China’s tourism industry of encouraging premature mass tourism
23rd April 2020 - WTTC calls on G20 leaders to coordinate recovery for the tourism industry
21st April 2020 - GlobalData predicts short term boost for Australian domestic tourism
21st April 2020 - New survey suggests China set to lead Thailand’s tourism recovery
17th April 2020 - Tourism thought leaders consider the impact of COVID-19
17th April 2020 - WTTC commends global tourism industry for helping during COVID-19
16th April 2020 - Tourism recovery vital for economies of Asia Pacific nations
12th April 2020 - Taiwan Government unveils tourism relief package
7th April 2020 - Thai resort renovates and re-energises ahead of tourism industry recovery
6th April 2020 - Online conference to address tourism challenges through Coronavirus pandemic
25th March 2020 - Vietnam tourism and leisure developer focuses on new projects during COVID-19 disruption
20th March 2020 - Australian tourism sector losing $3 billion a month as travel restrictions bite
17th March 2020 - Coronavirus impact puts up to 50 million jobs at risk across global tourism
29th January 2020 - PATA anticipates one billion international visitor arrivals into Asia Pacific by 2024
17th March 2019 - Rise of wellness holidays an antidote to overtourism
2nd February 2019 - World Tourism Association launched to combat overtourism
26th November 2018 - UNWTO report shows Thailand leads Asia in incoming international visitor spending
21st November 2018 - New UNWTO Report helps cities manage impacts of ‘overtourism’
3rd February 2017 - UNESCO and UNWTO combine to launch 2017 as International Year of Sustainable Tourism
15th March 2016 - UNWTO head advocates for safer, easier travel in 2016
12th December 2014 - Anger over Australia’s withdrawl from UNWTO
11th February 2014 - UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai addresses 2014 CAUTHE Conference