The Effects of Coronavirus on the World Tourism Industry

The effects of the new type of coronavirus on the tourism sector continue. Regarding the travel crisis, which is expected to last at least another year, the United Nations World Tourism Organization points out that the number of tourists worldwide will decrease by 30 percent in 2020.

The Covid-19 epidemic, which the whole world is struggling with, has negatively affected the tourism sector the most, especially on a global scale, with travel bans. According to the data of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the number of tourists in the international arena was 1 billion 460 million in 2019. At the end of 2020, when the COVID-19 epidemic broke out, the number of tourists is expected to decrease by about 30% to 1 billion. According to the scenarios developed by science and research centers around the world regarding the future of the tourism industry, it predicts that the measures taken within the scope of the epidemic and the psychological effects caused by the epidemic will continue the international travel crisis for at least another year.

Reminding that the number of global tourists decreased by 0.4% in the 2003 SARS epidemic and 4% in the 2009 economic crisis against the current picture, Deric Hotels Chairman Farzad Tavakkoli said that COVID-19 will be the biggest crisis of the global tourism sector in the last 20 years. says.

International tourism goes back 20 years, it is imperative to turn to domestic tourism
Stating that the Covid -19 epidemic had longer lasting effects both economically and socially in view of the past crises, Deric Hotels Chairman pointed out that the recovery in international tourism will take time and new steps should be taken rapidly in order not to experience further losses in this process.

Farzad Tavakkoli said, “The economic effects of the epidemic decreased the purchasing power worldwide, and the growing anxiety made the social isolation process a safe haven for many segments. It is unfortunately possible to say that this course, which is expected to continue for at least another year, will shrink international tourism by 30%. At this point about 80% of the tourism turnover generated by foreign tourists in Turkey, in accordance with the health protocols to turn to domestic tourism, the damage caused by the requirement to minimize outbreaks. "Eid al-Adha and summer holidays of schools are important opportunities to take a step forward".

Security should be at the core of tourism
Stating that success in tourism passes through making visitors feel safe and that the concept of safety comes side by side with health most during the epidemic, Farzad Tavakkoli mentioned the steps to be followed in order to manage the current tourism crisis correctly.

Tavakkoli said, “Whether tourism crises reduce the economy or employment, they are basically defined as a set of factors that threaten the safety of tourists. Permanently staying safe depends on being able to act in a planned way in events that may occur suddenly, such as an epidemic. In this context, determining tourism processes, organizing a failure structure breakdown for each transaction, defining failure points for each defined activity, calculating the number of risk priorities for each failure point, matching the number of risk priorities with pre-determined strategies, prioritizing projected risks, organizing corrective programs. and it is important to follow the steps to review the transaction process ”.