The drop in the number of international tourists due to the coronavirus pandemic resulted in a loss of 460 billion dollars for the sector in the first half of the year, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) estimated on Tuesday.
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In question, a fall of 65% in the number of international tourists over the period, marked by border closures and restrictions for travelers, detailed this United Nations organization based in Madrid in a press release.
This plunge in activity has generated losses which "
multiply by five those recorded during the economic and financial crisis of 2009
", estimated the UNWTO.
“
It is a sector on which millions of people depend for a living,
” warned UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili, quoted in the statement.
According to the UNWTO, the development of tourism in August suggests "
a drop in demand close to 70%
" for the whole of 2020 while some regions of the world such as Europe have experienced a rebound since this summer. of the epidemic leading to further restrictions for travelers.
“
The return to 2019 levels in terms of tourist arrivals will take between 2 and 4 years,
” added UNWTO.
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In 2019, global tourism had experienced a 4% growth in arrivals.
France had been the number one destination ahead of Spain and the United States.