Coronavirus puts 50 million tourism jobs at risk

The coronavirus pandemic could cut up to 50 million jobs worldwide in the travel and tourism industry. This is according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). The tourism industry could shrink by up to 25 per cent. Many people are staying at home and not travelling. Many people cannot travel as more and more countries are taking action to fight COVID-19. This action includes closing borders, requiring people self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving in a country, and banning flights from other countries. The head of the WTTC 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".

The tourism industry makes up 10 per cent of the world's GDP and jobs. It is one of the industries hardest hit by the COVID-19 virus. Airlines, cruise ships and hotels have suffered big losses. Korean Air has warned that the coronavirus could threaten its survival. Australia's Qantas has reduced its international flights by nearly 25 per cent because of the outbreak. World-famous sites are deserted. This could cause restaurants and cafes to go out of business as tourists stay away from crowded places. Tourism is a key industry in Hawaii. Experts there predict that over half of Hawaii's hotel rooms will be empty over the next few months. The WTTC said that tourism would take 10 months to recover after the virus. 

Guide Questions:
1. Illustrate how most tourism jobs are at risk.
2. How important is tourism in every country?
3. With the pandemic, what is the worst that could happen to the companies and businesses?
4. How long would it take to recover from the said downfall of tourism?
5. What is the significance of people and tourism. Where would you want to go after this pandemic is over?

Vocabulary:
1. recover - find or regain possession of (something stolen or lost)
2. survival - the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances