Category: Latest Travel News

Madrid (Spain) – March 18, 2020 (travelindex.com) – As the COVID-19 situation evolves, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) observes that full or partial travel restrictions have been – and continue to be – introduced across the world. These decisions are made with public health as the primary concern.

This pandemic affects every level of society and we stand by those affected in these times. The impact of the pandemic on already slowing economies has made tourism particularly vulnerable, becoming the hardest hit sector so far. With 80% of the sector made up of small and medium-sized enterprises, millions of livelihoods in the world are left vulnerable.

Putting people first

People and their wellbeing must come first! UNWTO continues to work closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) to further a collaborative response to COVID-19. Following a high-level meeting at WHO headquarters in Geneva (10 March), we jointly underscore the importance of international cooperation and strong leadership in these difficult times.

This is a shared challenge and everybody must be part of the solution. Anyone travelling, whether for vital humanitarian missions, essential business or to keep supply chains functioning, has a duty of care to themselves and others. There can be no excuses and no exceptions as people around the world are living up to their responsibilities. If you do travel, stay safe and follow the existing simple but effective guidelines.

UNWTO operations

UNWTO has implemented public health protocols based on WHO recommendations and we are closely following the measures introduced by the government of Spain, our host country. All UNWTO events planned until 30 April have been suspended and will be rescheduled, based on the latest expert recommendations.

Living up to our social responsibility, and caring for the safety and wellbeing of their families, UNWTO personnel will be working from home until the end of March, and we remain fully operational during these extraordinary times.

Stay home – but travel tomorrow!

Tourism is uniquely placed to lead future recovery. Our sector will provide the jobs people need to bounce back and will drive economic growth that will help whole communities and countries to recover.

But for now, we must be patient and stand ready.

By staying home today, we can travel tomorrow. And travelling tomorrow will support jobs, celebrate culture and promote international friendship and understanding.

Read the full statement and more at the Official UNWTO website here:

To get the latest UNWTO News, in particular to read updates on the Covid-19 pandemic, click here…

Costa Navarino, Messinia (Greece) – March 18, 2020 (travelindex.com) – Costa Navarino the sustainable destination in the Greek region of Messinia, is developing two new luxury beachfront eco resorts close to the two José Mariá Olazábal-designed golf courses already scheduled to be completed in 2021.

The resorts are part of Costa Navarino’s development of three new areas of the destination: Navarino Hills, Navarino Bay and Navarino Waterfront.

The hotel at Navarino Bay – designed by two of Greece’s most prominent and successful architectural practices Tombazis & Associates Architects and K-Studio – will be the destination’s most luxurious hotel, offering 99 suites and pool villas on two kilometres of waterfront.

The resort has an earth-sheltered design with the buildings blending into the curved hillside with planted roofs. The design follows the natural topography of the land, using local materials, giving the impression that it has grown organically. The new hotel will feature an exclusive beach club, large swimming pool, destination spa, and various restaurants, bars, lounges and terrace spaces overlooking the historic Bay of Navarino.

The hotel at Navarino Waterfront – designed by Tombazis & Associates Architects, a big proponent of contemporary bioclimatic design – north of Navarino Bay, will be different in design with a contemporary take on a traditional port town.

The design borrows architectural details from the region, such as stone-built towers, sloping stone walls and wooden elements, but interprets them in a lean and modern style. Appealing to those looking for a livelier holiday, there will be a waterfront Agora with shops, restaurants, an open-air cinema, lagoon pools and a boho-chic beach club. The hotel will have 174 rooms and suites as well as 26 bungalows.

South of Navarino Bay, development continues on Olazábal’s two new golf courses, which are set high above the coastline, stretching over 150 hectares of scrubland typical of the region and bringing the total number of signature golf courses at Costa Navarino to four – all within a 13km radius.

One of the world’s leading sustainable destinations, Costa Navarino is made up of several distinct sites, all in southwest Peloponnese. It is renowned for its coastal location, unspoilt landscape, cultural heritage, luxurious accommodation and exclusive real estate.

A commitment to the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility exist throughout its operation and development – the building footprint covers only 10 per cent of the land – thus protecting and preserving both its natural beauty and the local communities of Messinia.

The two new hotels and golf courses will further enhance the destination, which already offers a wide choice of luxury hospitality and real estate, high-end gastronomy, year-round golf and sports facilities, authentic experiences and activities for adults and children.

The construction of all new developments is expected to be completed in 2021.

About Costa Navarino
Costa Navarino is the prime, sustainable destination in the Mediterranean, located in the Greek region of Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese. One of the most unspoiled and breathtaking seaside Mediterranean landscapes, this area has been shaped by 4,500 years of history.

Its philosophy is driven by a genuine desire to promote Messinia, while protecting and preserving its natural beauty and heritage. It will comprise a number of distinct sites featuring five-star deluxe hotels, luxury private residences, conference facilities, spa and thalassotherapy centres, signature golf courses, as well as a wide range of unique year-round activities for adults and children.

Navarino Dunes, the first area, is home to two luxury five-star hotels, The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino; Navarino Residences, a collection of luxury villas for private ownership; and The Residences at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino – fully furnished resort apartments for sale; the signature golf course The Dunes Course; Anazoe Spa, a 4,000m2 spa and thalassotherapy centre; the state-of-the-art conference centre House of Events; specially designed facilities for children; and a variety of gastronomy venues, sports, outdoor and cultural activities.

Navarino Bay, the second area, is home to the signature golf course, The Bay Course and to the earth-sheltered Bay Clubhouse, while an ultra-luxury, all suite and pool villas resort is currently under construction, alongside an upscale, vibrant, lifestyle resort at the nearby site Navarino Waterfront.

At Navarino Hills, two new 18-hole signature golf courses are also being constructed.

London (United Kingdom) – March 17, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The World Travel and Tourism Council says up to 50 million jobs in the Travel & Tourism sector are at risk due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “WTTC figures show the stark impact on the Travel & Tourism sector of the present COVID-19 outbreak with analysis now suggesting that up to 50 million jobs are at risk in the sector globally”.

“When the time is right, WTTC and the global private sector will be ready to help and support the government and countries to recover”.

Latest figures from WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, show that global travel could be adversely impacted by up to 25 per cent in 2020. This is the equivalent to a loss of three months of global travel. This could lead to a corresponding reduction in jobs of between 12 and 14 per cent.

“The COVID-19 outbreak clearly presents a significant threat to the industry as a whole, to those employed within it, and those wishing to continue travelling.

“Travel & Tourism has the strength to overcome this challenge and will emerge stronger and more robust by taking all necessary measures to tackle COVID-19 and the understandable concern which surrounds it.”

Following extensive consultation with other Travel & Tourism organisations, WTTC is also calling for a series of measures to be taken, to enable the swift recovery of the sector once COVID-19 is under control.

WTTC will offer its support to all governments, particularly those which are implementing strong policies for a prompt recovery such as:

1. Improve travel facilitation – remove or simplify visas wherever possible, reduce the cost and improve processing times where practical, accept other visas when appropriate and introduce more efficient technologies for seamless and secure travel.

2. Remove barriers – ensure that unnecessary barriers are removed or relaxed to alleviate pressure at ports and airports, including temporarily lifting of the 80-20 slot policy rule, ports assignments and implement flexible working visa for the industry in some countries with existing limitations, especially in hospitality and tour operation.

3. Ease fiscal policies – reduce and remove travellers’ taxes which increases the cost of travel, e.g. Air Passenger Duty and similar airport, port and hospitality taxes around the world.

4. Introduce incentives – introduce relief and incentives to support business continuity for companies which have been most negatively impacted by the virus. SMEs in particular will take longer to recover.

5. Support destinations – increase budgets and assign resources for promotion, marketing and product development purposes in destinations when they are ready to welcome visitors again.

At this time, WTTC reinforces the importance of strong public-private partnerships and greater international cooperation in order to respond and overcome the challenges faced by the sector during the management and recovery from COVID-19.

The Travel & Tourism sector has a proven track record of resilience in the face of crises and this ability to bounce back has improved significantly in recent years.

More about the World Travel & Tourism Council at www.wttc.org

Victoria, Mahé (Seychelles) – March 17, 2020 (visitseychelles.org) – Reference is made to our call to the Government of Seychelles for an open dialogue between the politicians, our Head of State and the relevant authorities and stakeholders, to discuss and agree upon immediate affirmative action moving forward as our vulnerable Nation grapples with COVID-19.

Our call has thus far gone unanswered and unacknowledged by the other politicians, with our Head of State continuing to operate in isolation and in the shadows. The fear and anxiety being felt by the public is escalating steadily, with many businesses, as well as private and Governmental bodies, taking matters into their own hands and closing their doors for two weeks. Teachers on Praslin today reacted to the opening of the schools, while educational institutions around Mahé have closed their doors in order to promote social distancing.

Different countries reliant upon tourism have taken drastic measures to preserve and safeguard their citizens by closing their borders, including Mauritius, our sister island. Meanwhile, Seychelles continues to receive visitors daily from Europe, which is now the epicentre of the coronavirus. Seychelles must now move to curtail tourism arrivals from coronavirus-infected areas while simultaneously working to keep businesses afloat and continue providing employment for the people of Seychelles.

We call on the National Assembly to urgently develop austerity measures, in consultation with the Seychelles Tourism Board, that will ensure businesses are kept alive and Seychellois employees do not lose their jobs. The tourism industry is encouraged to offer a re-booking option, if they are unwilling to offer a refund, to clients who booked their accommodation or excursion packages prior to the pandemic.

While the Country is feeling the mounting pressures associated with the virus reaching our shores and infiltrating society, the only constructive way forward is to strive for unity. Unity is our strength, division is our weakness. Our Government has a duty to prioritize the health and security of its People. It must also protect the public from the economic impact of this global health crisis; family-operated businesses in our tourism-reliant country will need support to weather the crisis.

Frankfurt (Germany) – March 16, 2020 (travelindex.com) – IMEX has been cancelled this year but what makes the cancellation of the event so unique is that IMEX group chairman, Mr Ray Bloom, and Ms Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX group, have managed to encapsulate the emotions and thoughts of many industry players in a personal note to their supporters.

“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the cancellation of this year’s IMEX in Frankfurt (due to take place 12-14 May). We know that this will come as an enormous disappointment, not only to the exhibitors, buyers and industry professionals who were due to attend the show, but also to the global business events community.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly and there are two overriding concerns that have caused us to make this decision at this time. First is the uncertainty caused by the fact that the German health minister has recently called for the ban on events with over 1,000 people which some German states have already endorsed, including the state of Hesse where Frankfurt is located. This announcement makes the probability of factors outside our control forcing us to cancel the show at the last minute much higher.

“Second, our primary concern is always the responsibility we feel towards our exhibitors and partners, who fund the show – not only by purchasing stand space but also in the considerable additional investment they make in everything from the build of stunning stands to the hosting of buyer events.

“Whilst only a short time ago we felt optimistic that May was far enough away to confidently proceed with our plans, as it stands today [11 March] we cannot guarantee the one thing that our exhibitors trust us above all else to deliver – namely a large-scale, high quality hosted buyer programme.

“In an ideal world we would wait and see. But we are in the real world and we cannot, in all good conscience, ask our exhibitors to continue to invest money against which they may not get a return.

“Both of these factors – uncertainty around whether IMEX will be allowed to proceed, as well as doubts as to the number of buyers who will be able to attend – have led us to the conclusion that we now have no option but to cancel IMEX in Frankfurt.

A decision based on facts

“We want to make it very clear that we have made this decision based purely on the facts as we know them today and, importantly for the whole IMEX team, based on the responsibility and genuine care we feel for all our clients and the global business events community.

“IMEX is our family business and the business events community is the only community we serve.

“We have tried today to take the best decision for the industry and we are so thankful for the support that has already been shown to us. Quite rightly many of you see yourselves as friends and members of the extended IMEX family. This is precisely why we’ve thought long and hard in the past few days, consulting in depth with partners and stakeholders across the industry before making this announcement. Our strapline “We Are All Connected” has never felt more true, nor more important.

Committed to serving the industry

“Despite the disappointment and impact we know you will feel, we want you to know that we’re fully committed to serving this industry that we love. We’re already working hard in the background to deliver value and service above and beyond the trade show you were looking forward to and will announce these plans in the near future.

“We intend to keep morale high and, together with leaders around the world, to focus on collective efforts to rebuild confidence and advocate for the power of business events to aid economic recovery once this situation is over.

“The IMEX team will also be working hard to deliver a successful IMEX America (15-17 September) with plans to recognise the 10th Anniversary of the show already in full swing. We hope that the business events world will join us in Las Vegas to celebrate our great industry.

“Once again, we thank the whole industry for the support that has been shown to us and we are here to support others in the industry as we all work through these difficult times.”

Response

Several industry leaders responded to these comments, among whom was Mr Kai Hattendorf, UFI MD/ CEO and president of Joint Meetings Industry Council.

He said: “It is, of course, deeply regrettable that the IMEX team has to cancel their flagship trade show in Frankfurt this May. However, I want everyone in the business events and exhibition industry to know on behalf of JMIC that we fully understand and support the difficult decision that Carina and Ray have had to make.

“Market places and meeting places are the core driver of business. For our industry to bounce back from the corona slump, our own market places and meeting places will as well be our fastest fast track to recovery. We are a resilient industry. We have shown that in the past, we will show that again. We are all in this together.”

Madrid (Spain) – March 15, 2020 (travelindex.com) – Protect yourself and others when traveling. Follow prevention practices you also use in daily life. As we face up to #COVID19 the UNWTO conveys the importance of responsible behavior and international coordination.

Tourism has an active role in response and recovery. This is a shared challenge.

Be part of the solution! How you travel MATTERS.

For yourself and for others: stay safe, travel responsibly.

NO EXCEPTIONS. NO EXCUSES.

We are all part of the solution!

#ResponsibleTravel

To get the latest UNWTO News, in particular to read updates on the Covid-19 pandemic, click here…

Madrid (Spain) – March 15, 2020 (travelindex.com) – In response to the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak, UNWTO is implementing public health protocols based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Spanish authorities, as the host country of UNWTO.

Effective immediately, all UNWTO events planned until 30 April are suspended.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and with the purpose to support and contribute to the health prevention and regulation actions recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNWTO decided to postpone all events organized by UNWTO and to not attend any event in which UNWTO personnel would participate from today until the end of April.

For the events that will take place in May, UNWTO will review the situation around the COVID-19 outbreak in due course.

Rescheduling to later dates will be evaluated depending on the further development the current situation.

To get the latest UNWTO News, in particular to read updates on the Covid-19 pandemic, click here…

Bangkok (Thailand) – March 14, 2020 (travelindex.com) – Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok is celebrating its 37th hotel anniversary on April 23, 2020 and is offering a ‘Stay 2 Pay 1’ promotion exclusively available to residents of Thailand who plan to stay in Bangkok on both leisure and business.

Guests can book and stay from now until July 31, 2020 for Deluxe room at only THB 3,700 net per room per night excluding breakfast and get the second night as complimentary. The special rate is available exclusively for Thai residents and expatriates holding Thai working permits only and I.D. is required upon arrival.

Bangkok is one of the intriguing cities of Asia; a place of glittering temples, a diverse cultural heritage, a majestic river, a myriad of exquisite dining opportunities and fabulous shopping options, and an energy that makes everything possible 24 hours a day. Located on the northern side of Bangkok, within the Ladprao business district and moments away from Chatuchak Park, a walking distance from BTS Ha Yaek Ladphrao station (N9) and the MRT Underground Phahon Yothin station (BL14), the hotel is one of the city’s timeless landmarks.

Rate is inclusive of tax and service charge. Blackout dates may apply and the offer is not available to groups of 10 or more rooms and cannot be combined with any other special offer. Other terms and conditions apply.

To take advantage of this attractive promotion, guests can call +66(0) 2541 1234 ext. 4116-9

For more information, please contact Marketing department
Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok
Sunday Treamprom Klinhom, Assistant Director of Marketing
M: 081 717 1494 | T: 02 541 1234 ext. 4202

Les Reussilles (Switzerland) – March 14, 2020 (travelindex) – Mechanical movements embody a philosophy testifying both to the history of the first artisans and to the most innovative mechanisms ever invented by humankind. Enter the Newton® movement from Manufacture SOPROD, stemming from three years of development and industrialisation. The first examples have rolled off the production lines, their reliability has been successfully tested and they are ready to be delivered to the renowned Swiss brands who ordered them from us.

Since 2008, SOPROD has been part of the Festina industrial group which, through its various companies, masters the essential components for the complete manufacture of mechanisms from mechanical calibres to quartz connected movements. At the heart of its six Swiss production sites, the entirely independent Manufacture produces all its components including its assortments – escape-wheels, pallets and rollers – as well balances and even balance springs – while its entity in the French Jura region produces mainplates only. SOPROD is thus offering a 100% Jura calibre, at a competitive price, in perfect harmony with the origin of its components. An entry-level industrial ‘engine’, entirely from the Jura and almost exclusively Swiss, that only the Manufacture SOPROD can currently offer and guarantee to Swiss watch brands upholding Swiss Made expertise and values.

A calibre that took several years to develop

The challenge for Jura engineers, watchmakers, developers, movement makers and micro-mechanical engineers was ambitious: to develop, fine-tune, industrially produce and ensure the reliability a new, simple and contemporary mechanical movement. After three years of hard work, the teams at SOPROD have succeeded and the Newton® movement has come of age. It can now be offered to Swiss watch brands looking for a reliable, high-performance, aesthetically pleasing ‘engine’ that can be customised in accordance with each company’s requirements.

The objective set by the owner, Miguel Rodriguez, owner and boss of the Festina Group, was simple to understand, yet not easy to achieve. This new movement had to be of irreproachable quality and reliability, but also meet the requirements of a 100% Swiss Made self-winding calibre. It also had to stand out from the competition and bring real added value to entry-level movement segments, while at the same time offering a contemporary design.

Reliability as the driving force

SOPROD is offering an industrial calibre that is resolutely reliability driven. To guarantee this decisive point in the development of a new ‘engine’ even in the event of shocks or vibrations, Newton® has the best shock absorber, the double-cone Incabloc®, while the cross-through bridge provides increased protection for the balance itself. Finally, to provide ultimate confirmation of its dependability, this Newton® movement has been tested by the Dubois Laboratory and earned the Chronofiable® Certificate, involving a battery of tests covering accelerated ageing cycles, shocks of all kinds and resistance to magnetic fields.

An intrinsic design, yet fully adaptable as the client chooses

The design of the bridges was to be particularly pared-back, in order to create a contemporary overall look. Contrary to competing calibres, the aim was to magnify the balance, ensuring 360° visibility. This aesthetic choice implied aiming for a movement that is as symmetrical as possible along the 6 o’clock-12 o’clock axis. To ensure that the heart of the movement takes pride of place, the balance is elegantly positioned at 6 o’clock, an infinite source of inspiration for brands that will opt to create «Open Heart» models.

SOPROD, the independent Manufacture that makes its own movements from A to Z

Representing a rare phenomenon among Swiss movement manufac- turers, SOPROD is also totally independent in terms of its sourcing of assortments (escape-wheels, pallets and rollers), balances and balance springs – to mention only the most sensitive elements. These are manufactured by MSE (Manufacture de spiraux et d’échappements), an entity of the group, based in Muriaux in the Franches-Montagnes. Thanks to the high quality of its components, the SOPROD collection of M100 movements and variations achieves a success rate of 90 to 95% at first attempt in the chronometer certification process.

SOPROD, the alternative Swiss movement Manufacture that is establishing itself

Since 1966, SOPROD SA has been developing and manufacturing mechanical, quartz and connected (via smartphone) movements featuring high added value, reliability and performance. A key player in the world of Swiss Made movements, SOPROD has many customers, most of them from renowned Swiss watch Maisons. The Manufacture has six production sites in Switzerland and one in the French Jura. Those in the Jura region handle the mechanical movement segment, while connected quartz movements are designed and developed in Sion (Canton of Valais.) Since 2008, SOPROD has belonged to the Festina industrial group which, through its various companies, masters the components essential to A to Z movement production, making it a 100% independent Manufacture. In Muriaux in the Jura, MSE (Manufacture de spiraux et d’échappements) produces the assortments (es- cape-wheels, pallets and rollers), along with balances and balance springs. At the six other sites, SOPROD manufactures all the other components: plates, bridges, pinions, screws, ball bearings, etc. SOPROD has its own collection of calibres: M100 and now Newton®. These lines naturally comply with the sizes of standard Swiss movements, which are constantly being enlarged due to the development of horological complications.

Madrid (Spain) – March 13, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The tourism sector, like no other economic activity with social impact, is based on interaction among people. 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 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.

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.

UNWTO continues to coordinate closely with WHO and other United Nations agencies, and UNWTO’s Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili maintains regular contact with governments and tourism sector leaders.

Putting People First

The tourism sector is committed to putting people and their wellbeing first.

As the United Nations agency leading tourism’s contribution to sustainable development, UNWTO issued a joint statement with WHO, the lead UN agency for the global response to COVID-19.

Both organizations call for responsibility and heightened coordination to ensure that health measures are implemented in ways that minimize unnecessary interference with international travel. Furthermore, tourism’s response needs to be measured and consistent, proportionate to the public health threat and based on local risk assessment.

Responsible Travel

Personal responsibility is the most important step that people can take to protect themselves and others. Travelers should familiarize themselves with the basic prevention practices that apply while travelling and in daily life (WHO advice for public). These include:

– regular hand-washing,
– normal cough etiquette,
– postponing travel plans in cases of illness, and
– avoiding contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.

It is essential to stay informed as the situation evolves, especially while travelling. Travelers should check regularly with WHO and other reliable resources for the latest updates and information issued by health and travel professionals.

Travelers are responsible not only for their own well-being but for the well-being of those around them. They should be aware of the symptoms and take all the recommended steps for personal hygiene.

Impact on Tourism

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.

Supporting Recovery

Small and medium sized enterprises (which make up around 80% of the tourism sector) are expected to be particularly impacted. This might affect millions of livelihoods across the world, including vulnerable communities who rely on tourism as a vehicle to spur their development and economic inclusion.

Due to its cross-cutting economic nature and deep social footprint, tourism is uniquely positioned to help societies and communities affected return to growth and stability. Over the years, the sector has consistently proven its resilience and its ability not only to bounce back as a sector but to lead the wider economic and social recovery. This depends on adequate political support and recognition.

Against this backdrop, UNWTO calls for:

– financial and political support for recovery measures targeting the tourism sector in the most affected countries;
– recovery measures and incentives to be planned and implemented in coordination with international development and donor organizations; and
– tourism support to be included in the wider recovery plans and actions of affected economies.

As in the past, UNWTO will provide guidance and support for recovery measures of its members, the private and public tourism sector, including organizers of tourism events and fairs.