Nearly three million jobs in the UK look set to be lost due to the collapse of travel, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The number calculated for the potential job losses in the industry sector worldwide is nearly 197 million, according to WTTC Travel.
Some travel bans have been removed but others remain, with new restrictions likely to come into force to tackle the continuing threat posed by Covid-19 and possible second spikes.
The confusing patchwork of bans, quarantines and uncoordinated international testing and tracing measures, have deterred many people from traveling. The peak summer 2020 travel season is far from being what was desired.
Last week travel the UK government changed its travel advice to re-impose a 14-day quarantine period for people arriving back from Spain. This countrywide ‘travel ban’ came despite parts of Spain, such as Andalucia, the Balearics and Canaries have a lower Covid-19 infection rate than the UK.
“We acknowledge the UK government’s efforts to support Travel & Tourism during this crisis, but the UK alone looks set to lose three million jobs in the sector, creating an economic black hole of US$186 billion in the country’s finances,” Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said. “This is due to an international failure to implement proper coordination to combat the pandemic.
WTTC believes the implementation of a rapid test and trace strategy is a critical step to help contain the spread of the virus, while still allowing people to travel responsibly and encouraging greater and sustained collaboration between the public and private sectors to ensure a standardised, global approach to the crisis. WTTC has recommended the use ‘air corridors’ to stimulate the Travel & Tourism sector and the wider economy.
