High Hopes That Over 100 Million Jobs in Travel & Tourism Could Be Recovered in 2021

January 25, 2021 Moscow

Over 100 million jobs could return to offer services in the travel and tourism industry during this year. Besides, “a strong summer of travel” is also expected as these industries start their recovery process, according to the latest report of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

The WTTC has stressed that the best-case scenario would see a comeback of 84 million jobs. However, the figures would be 25 per cent below 2019 levels, or 82 million fewer jobs returned, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

According to the WTTC President & CEO, Gloria Guevara, the Council believes that an intense summer of travel will be present during this year, thanks to a combination of COVID-19 preventive measures, and the vaccination rollout as well as testing requirements.

“Our latest research supports this and shows there is definitely hope on the horizon for the global Travel & Tourism sector in the year ahead, with the possible recovery of up to 111 million jobs,” Guevara pointed out.

At first, the Council predicted the return of the sector through its plan to recover 100 million jobs, presented in October by the historic G20 Tourism Ministers meeting.

“Now we believe the sector’s return will become a reality, thanks in part to WTTC’s commitment and determination to save and support the sector, through some of the darkest days of the pandemic,” WTTC has stressed through its statement.

In the best-scenario, the travel and tourism’s contribution to global GDP will decrease by 17 per cent compared to 2019 figures, to US$7.4 trillion. The contribution of the tourism industry will decline by more than one quarter (27 per cent), to US$ 6.5 trillion.

Last year, the World Travel and Tourism Council warned that 174 million persons who work in the travel and tourism sector risked losing their jobs until the end of 2020, due to the rapid spread of the Coronavirus disease. The recent WTTC report showed that 111 million jobs could be rescued, even though the figures would still be 17 per cent below 2019 figures or 54 million fewer jobs.

In December, WTTC stressed that international business travel could restart in case an agreement is reached to “safeguard journeys of up to 72-hours free from quarantines.” The Council, in October, welcomed the imposed testing process at many European Airports, considering the move as a step towards the safe reopening of international travel

Source: http://bit.ly/3pjeIm4