The world tourism sector has lost more than 460 billion dollars this year, the World Tourism Organization reported.

And although air traffic between countries is gradually recovering, the tourism sector is severely affected by the restrictions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. And it is still very far from the 2019 figures.

In the first half of 2020, a decline in tourism was recorded by 65%. This figure was confirmed on Tuesday by the UN World Tourism Organization.

The crisis is so serious that only in June 2020 the number of tourists decreased by 93% compared to the same month of 2019.

This led to a loss of 460 billion dollars, an amount five times higher than that recorded in the industry during the financial crisis in 2009.

The countries of the Asia-Pacific region were most affected by the lack of tourists. Tourist flow there has decreased by 72%.

In Europe this figure was 66%, in Africa and Middle East – 57%, in America – 55%.

Perhaps next year, when the restrictions will be gradually abolished, these figures will decrease, but for the full recovery of the tourist market, according to experts, it will take at least three or four years.

Source: Reuters