International travel expected to resume by June , urge for clear roadmap for recovery
Travel Biz News –
International travel will significantly boost global and country level GDPs and jobs, if international mobility and travel is resumed by June this year, according to a study of London based World Travel and Tourism Council.
According to the WTTC research, the sector’s contribution to global GDP could rise sharply this year, up 48.5 per cent year-on-year. The research also shows that its contribution could almost reach the same levels of 2019 in 2022, with a further year-on-year rise of 25.3 per cent.
The sector’s contribution to global GDP plummeted to US$4.7 trillion in 2020 (5.5 per cent of the global economy), from nearly US$ 9.2 trillion the previous year (10.4 per cent).
Travel and tourism sector contributed 10.6 per cent (334 million) jobs globally in 2019, when global tourism was thriving and generating one in four of all new jobs around the world.
The Council also predicts that if the global vaccine rollout continues at pace, and travel restrictions are relaxed just before the busy summer season, the 62 million jobs lost in 2020 could return by 2022.
WTTC strongly advocates the resumption of safe international travel in June this year, if governments follow its four principles of recovery, which includes a comprehensive coordinated international testing regime upon departure for all non-vaccinated travellers, to eliminate quarantines.
It also includes enhanced health and hygiene protocols and mandatory mask wearing; shifting to individual traveller risk assessments instead of country risk assessments; and continued support for the sector, including fiscal, liquidity and worker protection.
“The introduction of digital health passes, such as the recently announced ‘Digital Green Certificate’, will support the sector’s recovery,” it said.
The global tourism body also urged governments around the world to provide a clear and decisive roadmap, allowing businesses time to ramp up their operations in order to recover from the ravages of the pandemic.
April 4 , 2021 Photo : WTTC
