Sights and streets free from humans due to coronavirus
In the past few years, the phenomenon of excessive tourism has become one of the most important topics in the world .. However, it seems that this phenomenon will not last long, especially with the spread of the new Corona virus, outside the Chinese city of Wuhan.
According to some experts, the Corona virus may be the worst thing that has happened to the travel sector,
since the events of September 11.
And many countries have imposed restrictions on travelers from China, which is the largest travel market in the world, which also resulted in a decrease in the number of visitors.
Not only that, but airlines have asked employees to take unpaid leave, due to the cancellation of many flights. Major tourist attractions and hotels also reported a significant decrease in reservations. For example, in Italy, hotel reservations fell by more than 50 percent.
Although the tourist train, between Hakone Station and Shinjuku, is still operating in Japan, few tourists buy flight tickets.
Many of the world’s most famous places are closed to visitors, including Disney’s parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Some public events, such as the London Book Fair and the Architecture Gallery in Venice, were canceled, in addition to the cancellation of Lunar New Year offers throughout Asia.
At Hong Kong International Airport, February data indicated that fewer than 3,000 people enter the airport, which is usually crowded, on a daily basis.
From China to Paris, the Louvre Museum, which is the most visited in the world, was closed to people for several days, after staff protested for fear of the Corona virus.
The Louvre and the Eiffel Tower were among the main tourist attractions in the French capital, Paris, which closed, after the government banned gatherings of more than 100 people, to limit the spread of the Corona virus.
It will also close the Eiffel Tower, whose administration said: The tower will be reopened as soon as sanitary conditions permit. But some places were still not certain yesterday afternoon, whether or not to receive an audience, including a cinema in the center of Paris, she said that she would keep its doors open now, because she expected less than 100 people to attend. Before the prime minister announced, gatherings were allowed anywhere for less than 1,000 people, but France was stepping up efforts to contain the virus, and schools would be closed, starting on Monday.
World Tourism Organization : TOURISM AND CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19):
The outbreak of Coronavirus COVID-19 presents the tourism sector with a major and evolving challenge.
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has strengthened its collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). The two UN agencies met in Geneva to further advance a coordinated response to COVID-19.
UNWTO calls for solid international leadership and for tourism to be included as a priority in future recovery efforts.
UNWTO also calls upon the sector and travelers to address this challenge with sound judgment and proportionate measures.
Tourism is currently one of the most affected sectors and UNWTO has revised its 2020 forecast for international arrivals and receipts, though emphasizes that such any predictions are likely to be further revised.
Against a backdrop of travel restrictions being introduced, UNWTO underscores the importance of international dialogue and cooperation and emphasizes the COVID-19 challenge also represents an opportunity to show how solidarity can go beyond borders.
The tourism sector, like no other economic activity with social impact, is based on interaction amongst people. UNWTO has been guiding the tourism sector’s response on several levels:
By cooperating closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), the lead UN agency for the management of this outbreak;
by ensuring with WHO that health measures are implemented in ways that minimize unnecessary impact on international travel and trade;
by standing in solidarity with affected countries; and
by emphasizing tourism’s proven resilience and by standing ready to support recovery.
The tourism sector is currently one of the hardest-hit by the outbreak of COVID-19, with impacts on both travel supply and demand. This represents an added downside risk in the context of a weaker world economy, geopolitical, social and trade tensions, as well as uneven performance among major outbound travel markets.
Considering the evolving nature of the situation, it is too early to estimate the full impact of the COVID-19 on international tourism. For its initial assessment, UNWTO takes the SARS scenario of 2003 as a benchmark, factoring in the size and dynamics of global travel and current disruptions, the geographic spread of COVID-19 and its potential economic impact:
- As of today, UNWTO estimates that in 2020 global international tourist arrivals could decline between 1% to 3%, down from an estimated growth of 3% to 4% forecast in early January 2020.
- This could translate into a loss of US$ 30 to 50 billion in spending by international visitors (international tourism receipts).
- So far, the Asia and the Pacific region is expected to be the most affected (a decrease of 9% to 12% in international tourist arrivals, down from growth of 5% to 6% forecast in early January 2020).
- Estimates for other world regions are currently premature in view of the rapidly evolving situation.
UNWTO underscores that any estimate must be treated with caution due to the volatile and uncertain evolution of the outbreak which might lead to further revisions.
