The ‘Covid-19 pandemic’ has remained a focus of attention to policy makers. The United Nations (UN) has just published a report evaluating the consequences of the pandemic on the tourism sector worldwide.

Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General, noted that the tourism sector provides employment for one person in every ten. With the pandemic’s impact, he stated that international tourist arrivals had decreased by more than half in the first five months of 2020. This resulted in a related loss of US$ 320 billion in export earnings from tourism.

He stated that 120 million people are at risk of losing their jobs. Guterres also warned that estimated losses may increase to US$ 3.3 trillion or 4.2% of global GDP.

The pandemic has affected the ‘developed’ economies significantly, even as it has created an ’emergency’ in many ‘developing’ and ‘small-island states’ and African countries.

Noting the decline in tourism income, Guterres also warned that this will lead to increased poaching and destruction of protected areas.