50 million tourism jobs at risk because of pandemic

Wednesday, 13 Mar, 2020 0

The World Travel and Tourism Council has warned 50 million industry jobs are at risk because of the coronavius pandemic.

It adds the global travel sector could contract by up to 25% this year, which is the equivalent to a loss of three months of global travel.

President and CEO Gloria Guevara said: "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."

It’s called for governments to take steps such as removing or simplifying visas and reducing their costs and increasing budgets for promoting travel destinations.

Latest figures show more than 5,000 people have died around the world after testing postive for coronavirus, although China claims the infection peak has passed.

Late yesterday, the UK Government told Brits over 70 to avoid cruise holidays.

Before the Government advice changed, Princess and Viking had already announced they were suspending operations. Cruise industry body CLIA has cancelled next month’s UK conference and said it plans to rescheduled later in the year. Virgin Voyages has said its inaugural season was being postponed.

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Lisa

Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.

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