Coronavirus: Restart tourism to beat virus, says UN chief
The UN secretary general says tourism could be used as a platform for overcoming the effects of COVID-19. “Tourism can promote solidarity and trust - crucial ingredients in advancing the global co-operation that is so urgently needed at this time,” Antonio Guterres said.
Previous research by the UN’s tourism arm suggests that up to 120 million tourism jobs could be at risk.
“Travel is down, fear is up, and the future is uncertain,” Mr Guterres said.
The UK and many other parts of the world, however, still have travel restrictions in place in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Travel restrictions
The sector as a whole has been badly affected by the pandemic. It has left thousands of aircraft grounded as potential tourists have been forced to stay at home amid lockdown. In a recent report, the United Nations’ World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) found that “all destinations worldwide” still had some form of travel restrictions in place, although some were easing. About 75 per cent of those destinations had completely closed their borders to international tourism.
All those arriving in the UK - including UK nationals - now have to provide an address where they will self-isolate for 14 days.
Travellers can be fined £100 (FJ$245) for failing to fill in a form with these details, but those arriving from the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man are exempt.Home Secretary Priti Patel said the two-week quarantine period would protect public health, now that imported coronavirus cases ‘’pose a more significant threat’’.