MADRID — The ***** Tourism Organization (UNWTO) says international tourism could plummet 20-30% in 2020.

The figures are included in the agency’s updated assessment of the likely impact of the ******** on international tourism.

Taking into account the unparalleled introduction of travel restrictions across the *****, the United Nations’ specialized agency for tourism expects that international tourist arrivals will be down significantly when compared with 2019 figures.

An expected fall of between 20-30% could translate into a decline in international tourism receipts (exports) of between US$300-450 billion, almost one-third of the US$1.5 trillion generated in 2019.

Taking into account past market trends, this would mean that between five and seven years’ worth of growth will be lost to ********. Putting this into context, UNWTO notes that in 2009, on the back of the global economic ******, international tourist arrivals declined by 4%, while the **** outbreak led to a decline of just 0.4% in 2003.

“Tourism is among the hardest hit of all economic sectors,” says UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “However, tourism is also united in helping to address this immense health ********* – our first and utmost priority – while working together to mitigate the impact of the ******, particularly on employment, and to support the wider recovery efforts through providing jobs and driving economic welfare worldwide.”

Pololikashvili added that, while it’s too early to make a full assessment on the impact of ******** on tourism, it’s clear that millions of jobs within the sector are at risk of being lost. Around 80% of all tourism businesses are small- and medium-sized enterprises, and the sector has been leading the way in providing employment for women, youth and rural communities.