UNWTO predicts 60-80% fall in number of arrivals
The number of international tourist arrivals could plunge by 60 to 80% in 2020 owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the WTO said Thursday, revising its previous forecast sharply lower. Widespread travel restrictions and the closure of airports and national borders to curb the spread of the virus had plunged international tourism into its worst crisis since records began in 1950, the UN agency said. Tourist arrivals fell by 22% in the first three months of the year, and by 57% in March alone, with Asia and Europe suffering the biggest declines, according to the Madrid-based organisation. "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 body's secretary general, Zurab Pololikashvili, said. Airlines have suffered the most since the outbreak began with most flights grounded, but hotel groups, cruise operators and tour operators are also reeling. Under a best-case scenario, with travel restrictions starting to ease in early July, international tourist arrivals could fall by just 58%.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2020-05-08/general/unwto-predicts-60-80-fall-in-number-of-arrivals
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UNWTO predicts 60-80% fall in number of arrivals
The number of international tourist arrivals could plunge by 60 to 80% in 2020 owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the WTO said Thursday, revising its previous forecast sharply lower. Widespread travel restrictions and the closure of airports and national borders to curb the spread of the virus had plunged international tourism into its worst crisis since records began in 1950, the UN agency said. Tourist arrivals fell by 22% in the first three months of the year, and by 57% in March alone, with Asia and Europe suffering the biggest declines, according to the Madrid-based organisation. "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 body's secretary general, Zurab Pololikashvili, said. Airlines have suffered the most since the outbreak began with most flights grounded, but hotel groups, cruise operators and tour operators are also reeling. Under a best-case scenario, with travel restrictions starting to ease in early July, international tourist arrivals could fall by just 58%.<br/>
