(TAN): The coronavirus outbreak could put millions of tourism-related jobs at jeopardy, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimated.
According to WTTC, which represents the global travel and tourism private sector, the pandemic could affect up to 50 million jobs in the travel sector worldwide.
WTTC President and Chief Executive Officer, Gloria Guevara said the organisation and the global private sector will eventually support the countries in their path to recovery.
“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. When the time is right, WTTC and the global private sector will be ready to help and support the government and countries to recover,” she said.
WTTC said the crisis could lead to a 12% to 14% loss in terms of employment as global travel will be impacted by up to 25% this year, which is as much as a loss of a quarter of a year’s global travel.
The organisation urged governments to take some measures to protect the tourism sector. They include removing or simplifying visas where possible, and reducing costs, removing or relaxing “unnecessary barriers” at ports and airports, reducing and removing travellers’ taxes, introducing incentives and relief to businesses that are badly hit, and raising budgets for promoting travel destinations.
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Guevara stressed that the virus outbreak presents a “significant threat” to the entire industry, although she believed the sector will bounce back.
“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 & Tourism 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 added.
Meanwhile, India suspended all visas, except a few categories, until April 15, while Thailand suspended issuing visa on arrival to visitors from 18 countries to limit the spread of the coronavirus, reports said.
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The list of countries reportedly affected by Thailand’s decision includes – Bulgaria, Bhutan, China (including Taiwan), Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu.
The United States shut its borders to 26 European countries, except the United Kingdom and Ireland, for 30 days.
