World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) President and CEO Gloria Guevara has penned an open letter urging three ‘vital’ measures to save global travel and tourism businesses from the devastation caused by Covid-19.

In a stark warning echoing the urgent need for an economic lifeline, as governments across the globe implement travel restrictions and airlines ground flights, the WTTC has called for immediate action to stave off the risk of millions of job losses and ‘almost incalculable damage worldwide’.

Financial help should be granted, says the WTTC, to protect the incomes and welfare of millions of people working in travel and tourism.

TAX RELIEF 

Governments are being advised to extent unlimited interest-free loans to global travel & tourism companies plus the millions of small and medium-sized businesses to avert their collapse.

Finally, government taxes, dues and financial demands on the travel sector should be waived immediately for at least 12 months.

“Travel is the backbone of economies around the world,” says the letter. :It brings in essential currency and inward investment, creates jobs and stimulates every sector.

“WTTC figures show travel & tourism contributes to 10.4% of global GDP and 320 million jobs. It is responsible of creating one in five new jobs and, for eight successive years, has outpaced the growth of the global economy.

“We are calling upon the world to take urgent and immediate action to prevent this global health crisis becoming a worldwide economic catastrophe. Doing nothing is not an option.

“We implore every government to take drastic and decisive action now to preserve and protect the contribution of the travel & tourism sector, on which more than 320 million people and their families depend on for their livelihoods.

“Travel & Tourism companies are playing their part to protect their employees.”