Coronavirus puts up to 50 million industry jobs at risk: World Travel & Tourism Council

Coronavirus puts up to 50 million industry jobs at risk: World Travel & Tourism Council

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) says up to 50 million jobs in the travel and tourism sector are at risk due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Latest figures from WTTC, which represents the private sector of travel and tourism across the globe, show that worldwide travel could be adversely impacted by up to 25 per cent in 2020.

According to the WTTC, this is the equivalent to a loss of three months of global travel, and could lead to a corresponding reduction in jobs of between 12 and 14 per cent.

“WTTC figures show the stark impact on the travel and 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,” president and chief executive Gloria Guevara (pictured asbove) said.

“When the time is right, WTTC and the global private sector will be ready to help and support the government and countries to recover.

“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 and 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.”

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