The World Tourism Organisation on Thursday said, revising its previous forecast sharply lower, the number of international tourist arrivals could plunge by 60 to 80 percent in 2020 owing to the coronavirus.
Widespread travel restrictions and the closure of airports and national borders to control the spread of the virus had plunged international tourism into its worst crisis since records began in 1950, the UN body said in a statement.
Tourist arrivals fell by 22 percent in the first three months of the year, and by 57 percent in March alone, with Asia and Europe suffering the biggest declines, according to the Madrid-based organization.
Airlines have suffered the most since the outbreak began in China in late 2019 with most flights grounded, but hotel groups, cruise operators, and tour operators are also reeling.
