The latest tourism data from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has revealed the extent of damage caused to tourism because of the pandemic. International arrivals fell by 72 per cent over the first ten months of 2020. Restrictions on travel, low consumer confidence and a struggle to contain the pandemic has led to the worst year on record in the history of tourism.
Losses have run into US$935 billion in export revenues
Destinations welcomed 900 million fewer international tourists between January and October when compared with the same period of 2019. Such low numbers have directly translated into a loss of US$935 billion in export revenues from international tourism.
UNWTO secretary-general, Zurab Pololikashvili, said: “Since the start of this crisis, UNWTO has provided governments and businesses with trusted data showing the unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on global tourism. Even as the news of a vaccine boosts traveller confidence, there is still a long road to recovery. We thus need to step up our efforts to safely open borders while supporting tourism jobs and businesses.It is ever clearer that tourism is one of the most affected sectors by this unprecedented crisis.”
Based on current trends, UNWTO further expects international arrivals to decline by 70-75 per cent for the whole of 2020.