WTTC: UK tourism sector poised for recovery
New projections from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) suggest the UK’s travel and tourism sector is showing positive recovery signs.
The country’s GDP predicted to rise to £192 billion, just 19% below pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2022.
It forecasts a healthy recovery for the sector if travel restrictions remain off limits for the rest of the year.
According to the latest research, it could also mean a net gain in jobs for the sector, with a rise of 1.7% on pre pandemic levels, resulting in some 4.3 million people being employed within travel by the end of the year.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: "Travel & Tourism to and from the UK is poised for a full recovery. By the end of this year, we estimate its contribution to national economy could reach £192 billion.
"While the UK was one of the worst hit in terms of the sector’s contribution to GDP, the future is looking positive. But this will depend on the government keeping to its pledge to re-open the UK and not reintroducing travel restrictions that actually had zero impact on the spread of the virus."
The global tourism body also again urged governments around the world to remove the patchwork of restrictions, allow the fully vaccinated to travel freely and enable international travel using digital solutions that allow travellers to prove their status in a simple and secure way.
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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.
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