Tourism and COVID19

St. John Basilica Rome

Rome [ENA] The tourism sector, like no other economic activity with social impact, is based on interaction amongst people. The coronavirus is expected to cost Italy's tourism sector 7.4 billion euros in losses in the upcoming trimester - March 1-May 31 - with an estimated loss of 31.625 million tourists over that quarter, the confederation representing businesses in the sector Confturismo-Confcommercio declared.

UNWTO has been guiding the tourism sector’s response on several levels. In an update on the sector’s response to the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, (The disease has been named COVID-19, short for “coronavirus disease 2019”, following WHO best practices for naming of new human infectious diseases, with the aim to minimize unnecessary negative impact of disease names on trade, travel, tourism, or animal welfare. Any other naming not following WHO’s guidance and recommended best practices is strongly discouraged.). The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is offering a first assessment pointing to a decrease in international arrivals and receipts in 2020. Public health measures have to be implemented in ways that minimize any disruption

not necessary to travel and trade. Since the start of the outbreak, UNWTO has been working with the World Health Organization (WHO) to make certain that this is the case. UNWTO has revised its 2020 prospects for international tourist arrivals to a negative growth of 1% to 3%, which can be transformed into an estimated loss of US$ 30 to 50 billion in international tourism receipts. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, UNWTO predicted a positive growth of 3% to 4% for 2020. This first assessment expects that Asia and the Pacific will be the worst affected region, with an anticipated fall in arrivals of 9% to 12%. Estimates for other world regions are currently premature in view of the rapidly evolving situation. UNWTO underscores that any

Scala Santa, Rome

estimate must be treated with caution and is likely to be updated. UNWTO calls for financial and political assistance for recovery measures aimed at tourism, and to include support for the sector in the wider recovery plans and actions of affected economies. The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak will be felt across the whole tourism value chain. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili furthermore declared that “small and medium sized enterprises make up around 80% of the tourism sector and are particularly exposed with millions of livelihoods across the world, including within vulnerable communities, relying on tourism”.

Political and financial commitments are key to ensure that tourism can lead economic and social recovery, as proven in past disruptions on the back of the highly resilient nature of the sector and its ability to bounce back strongly. In recent decades, tourism is firmly established as an important contributor to sustainable development, economic growth, employment and international understanding.

As the UN agency responsible for tourism and sustainable development, UNWTO stands ready to provide guidance and support for recovery measures of its members, the private and public tourism sector, including organizers of tourism events and fairs.