WTTC: Travel restrictions could cost 197 million travel jobs
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) says nearly 200 million jobs are now at stake if governments don’t take swift action to ease travel restrictions around the world.
WTTC’s latest research reckons 197 million jobs in the travel and tourism sector could disappear and trillions of dollars would be lost in tourism-related spending.
It pegs this figure if global travel restrictions continued past summer and international visitor numbers would decline by 73%.
With prolonged restrictions domestic tourism may fall by 64%.
However if restrictions are eased earlier up to 99 million jobs could be saved.
"Under our worst-case scenario, prolonged travel restrictions could put more than 197 million jobs under threat and cause a loss of more than $5.5 trillion to global travel and tourism GDP," said Gloria Guevara, WTTC president and CEO.
"The sector’s recovery will be delayed by heavy-handed restrictions just as it emerges from one of the most punishing periods in its history."
This latest prediction is 96% higher than WTTC’s previous estimate in April.
"Hotels, destinations, travel agents and others will all be devastated by the economic domino effect of prolonged restrictions on movement."
The WTTC urged governments to start opening air corridors or ‘travel bubbles’ between countries that have contained the pandemic to kickstart travel as soon as possible.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers