The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has estimated that nearly 50 million jobs are at risk because of the global  COVID-19 pandemic. Latest figures have revealed that global travel could be negatively impacted by upto 25 percent in 2020. This amounts to a loss of three months of global travel.

Measures to be taken to ensure the tourism industry can recover post the outbreak

A direct result of this is a reduction in jobs by 12-14 percent. “The COVID-19 outbreak clearly presents a significant threat to the industry as a whole, to those employed within it, and those wishing to continue travelling,” WTTC stated.  After extensive consultation with Travel & Tourism organisations, WTTC is calling for a series of measures to be taken, to ensure the speedy recovery of the sector once the outbreak is under control. 

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “WTTC figures show the stark impact on the Travel & Tourism sector of the present COVID-19 outbreak with analysis now suggesting that up to 50 million jobs are at risk in the sector globally.” 

WTTC is also offering its support to all governments in areas such as improving travel facilitation, removing barriers, easing fiscal policies and introducing incentives. They have also reinforced the importance of public-private partnerships and greater international cooperation in order to respond and overcome the challenges faced by the sector due to the outbreak.