The pandemic travel bust that hit tourism-dependent economies may only just be beginning.
Tourist destinations from Thailand to Iceland had been hoping Covid-19 vaccines would allow countries to reopen their borders and drive a much-needed recovery in 2021. Now, with, it is looking more likely that international travel could be stalled for years. After declaring that 2020 was the worst year for tourism on record, with one billion fewer international arrivals, the United Nations World Tourism Organization says prospects for a 2021 rebound have worsened. In October, 79% of experts polled by the agency believed a 2021 rebound was possible. Only 50% said they believed that in January, and some 41% didn’t think travel would reach pre-pandemic levels until 2024 or beyond.
James Sowane, who owns a transportation company catering to tourists in Fiji, called a staff meeting earlier this month and told employees to start looking for other jobs. He recently took advantage of a government-assistance program and had brought back some laid-off workers, optimistic that vaccines could spark a travel rebound as early as April.
But now Mr. Sowane doesn’t think tourists will return until next year, and he and his wife can’t afford to keep paying wages at their company, Pacific Destinations Fiji. He is borrowing from his bank to keep a few core employees.
You’ll do a favor to Nature and another to the local people if this year you spend your holidays in your own Country . I’m sure there are thousand of places you don’t know about it
Pandemic is a flu to peaceful protests which are riots.
American State Department depends on criminally intent American Consulate, Embassy Security Officers in Mexico from F B.I. office in Phoenix, AZ, same group Involved w/1971 Phoenix, AZ murderers of my son Patrick Robbins.
Not in Florida!! Actually quite the opposite because Blue States like Cali are still very restrictive.... I live in Newport Beach, CA and vacation in Florida. What does that tell you?! RecallGavinNewsom
When U.S. conservatives blamed China for the global COVID-19 pandemic, Beijing, Democratic Party, MSM went on the offensive, unleashing a massive disinformation campaign to shift blame to America & Trump, labeling anything not inline with CCP as conspiracy theory discrediting it.