WTTC warns 50 million tourism jobs could go in coronavirus outbreak

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has argued up to 50 million jobs in the tourism sector are at risk due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Gloria Guevara, president of WTTC said: “WTTC figures show the stark impact on the 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. When the time is right, WTTC and the global private sector will be ready to help and support the government and countries to recover.”

Latest figures from WTTC, which represents the global tourism private sector, show that global travel could be adversely impacted by up to 25% in 2020. This is the equivalent to a loss of three months of global travel. This could lead to a corresponding reduction in jobs of between 12-14%.

“Improve travel facilitation.”

“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. Travel has the strength to overcome this challenge and will emerge stronger and more robust by taking all necessary measures to tackle Covid-19 and the understandable concern which surrounds it,” she said.

Following extensive consultation with other tourism organisations, WTTC is also calling for a series of measures to be taken, to enable the swift recovery of the sector once Covid-19 is under control. It will offer its support to all governments, particularly those which are implementing strong policies for a prompt recovery such as improve travel facilitation, remove barriers, ease fiscal policies, introduce incentives and support destinations.