Global tourism revenues are expected to fall by up to $US3.3 trillion due to COVID-19 restrictions, with the United States standing to lose the most.
Meanwhile, the mayor of a town in Colombia has been praised after he turned in his own son, nephew and a close friend to police for breaking a curfew.
This story was last updated at 12: 45am.
Thursday’s key moments:
- COVID-19 could hit tourism by $3.3 trillion
- Colombian mayor hands son into police over COVID-19 breach
- Top UK football club Wigan faces bankruptcy amid pandemic
- Calls for apology after Northern Ireland politician attends a crowded funeral
COVID-19 could hit tourism by $3.3 trillion
Global tourism revenues are expected to fall by up to $3.3 trillion due to COVID-19 restrictions, with the United States standing to lose the most, according to a UN study.
The ‘COVID-19 and Tourism’ report released by The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is based on three scenarios for the industry — they relate to lockdown measures lasting either 4, 8 or 12 months.
In those scenarios, revenues would fall $US1.17 trillion, $US2.22 trillion and $US3.3 trillion respectively, or between 1.5 to 4.2 per cent of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The report did not say which scenario was most likely, although an UNCTAD official said the middle scenario “could be a realistic one”.
“International tourism has been almost totally suspended, and domestic tourism curtailed by lockdown conditions imposed in many countries,” the report said.
The United States incurs the highest losses in all three scenarios, with a $187 billion drop in the one lasting just four months, followed by China with $105 billion.
Thailand and France also stand to lose approximately $47 billion each.
Small island states such as Jamaica stand to suffer big losses in proporti