Travel figures to drop by up to 30% this year

International tourism arrivals could drop by 30% in 2020 warns the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). While the prediction should be interpreted with caution in view of the extreme uncertain nature of the current crisis, a fall of this much could translate into a decline in international tourism receipts of US$450 billion.

UNWTO has released its updated assessment of the likely impact of the COVID-19 on international tourism. Taking into account the unparalleled introduction of travel restrictions across the world, it expects that international tourist arrivals will be down by 30% in 2020 when compared with 2019 figures. UNWTO stresses that these numbers are based on the latest developments as the global community faces up to an unprecedented social and economic challenge and should be interpreted with caution in view of the extreme uncertain nature of the current crisis.

An expected fall of 30% could translate into a decline in international tourism receipts of US$450 billion, almost one third of the US$1.5 trillion generated in 2019. Taking into account past market trends, this would mean that between five and seven years’ worth of growth will be lost to COVID-19. UNWTO notes that in 2009, on the back of the global economic crisis, international tourist arrivals declined by 4%, while the SARS outbreak led to a decline of just 0.4% in 2003.

Zurab Pololikashvili of UNWTO said: “Tourism is among the hardest hit of all economic sectors. However, tourism is also united in helping to address this immense health emergency – our first and utmost priority – while working together to mitigate the impact of the crisis, particularly on employment, and to support the wider recovery efforts through providing jobs and driving economic welfare worldwide”.