Tourism

Global tourism plunges up to 80% in 2020

Published

Monday, October 5, 2020 17:47

Internationally, tourism will plunge between 60 – 80% by the end of the year. The UN World Tourism Organisation makes the forecast in their latest report. The prediction, broad and probably conservative, will put millions of workers in the world’s tourism industry, out of work. In Thailand, with its reliance on tourism as a significant contributor to its GDP, will see a fall beyond 90% for the year’s total numbers.

The loss of global tourism will take between $850 million to US$1.1 billion out of the world’s travel spend from international tourists and PUT 100 to 120 million tourism jobs at risk of being lost permanently.

International tourism is increasingly one of the main engines of the global economy as it accounts for roughly 7% of all international trade. It has witnessed a commensurate growth in the aviation industry, similarly stifled by the drop in tourism. Tourism also creates direct and indirect jobs, accounting for 1 out of 10 of ALL jobs worldwide. The sector has in many countries, including Thailand, a large informal industry that is also affected.

The UNWTO, together with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development , says that it is the deepest crisis that international tourism has faced since its records began in 1950.

“The tourism industry is one of the largest sectors to have been hit hard by health measures to control the spread of Covid-19. The extension of travel restrictions and the worsening of the financial crisis internationally also threatens international tourism and causes the industry to likely be the final sector to recover.”

SOURCE: UNWTO

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5 Comments

john smith

Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 6:35 am

But the Thai government has the answer…..greed, targeting selective rich tourists, being overly cautious and ignoring the tourists who aren’t rich but were responsible for putting food on the table…..someone please explain why Thai government always think westerners are richer than they think…….but alas the government will learn the hard way. Watch them get more and more desperate after biting off the hand and whole Arn that feed them….oh yes did someone convince them there is no money with all that sex stuff that used to go on in the good old days……..we are a family tourist destination now don’t you know…….wake up guys……something tells me they will wake up when they see every idea go down in flames

Reply
- Peter
  
  Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 9:35 pm
  
  “why Thai government always think westerners are richer than they think”
  
  Ahahahaha Thai government know what westerners poor as church mouse. That why they are target on Chinese;)
  Your time in Thailand is over. You destroyed Phuket and Pattaya by bringing dirt, drugs and prostitution to these beautiful places. Goodbye and don’t come back anymore, please.
  
  Thailand made the mistake of allowing Farangs to come to the country. Prayut fixed this
  
  Reply
  - Horst
    
    Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 11:29 am
    
    Peter du bist einfach nur ein kleiner dummer junge
    
    Reply
  - Horst
    
    Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 12:04 pm
    
    Falsch Peter die thai Regierung wird noch um jeden farrang froh sein der Devisen bringt wer brachte denn den Dreck und Unrat nach Thailand? Siehe mayabay kho phi phi usw richtig deine Freunde aus China ich wohne in der nähe Schloss neu schwanstein wir hatten das gleiche Problem seit die weg sind alles wieder Im lot hoffentlich kommen die nie wieder
    
    Reply
Don R

Friday, October 9, 2020 at 10:18 am

Seems like a great opportunity for neighbors like Laos, Cambodia, or Myanmar to supplant Thailand as the world’s number 1 tourist destination. This would put them on the fast track to economic development and could dramatically extend the life expectancy of their population.

Reply