The coronavirus could cut 50 million jobs worldwide in the tourism industry. This is what the World Travel and Tourism Council says. The tourism industry could become 25 per cent smaller. Many people are not travelling because more countries are taking action to fight COVID-19. This action includes closing borders, requiring people self-quarantine for 14 days, and banning flights from other countries. A tourism expert said the pandemic, "clearly presents a significant threat to the industry as a whole, to those employed within it, and those wishing to continue travelling".
Ten per cent of the world's GDP and jobs is from tourism. It is one of the industries hardest hit by the virus. Airlines and hotels have big losses. Korean Air warned the coronavirus could threaten its survival. Qantas reduced its international flights by nearly 25 per cent. World-famous sites are deserted. This could cause restaurants and cafes to go out of business as tourists stay away from crowded places. Experts predict that over half of Hawaii's hotel rooms will be empty for the next few months. Tourism could take 10 months to recover after the virus has gone.