The tourism slowdown has worrying implications for the global economy. Let's take a look at how the pandemic has affected the tourism industry of the world's 20 largest powers.
The criteria for assessing "level" are considered according to the proportion of the tourism industry's gross domestic product (GDP) in each country's economy. Which country is most looking forward to the situation stabilizing again to reopen to tourists?
Mexico
Tourism accounts for 15.5% of Mexico's GDP. The Central American country's economy is heavily dependent on tourism. With social distancing orders in place, the country is losing billions of dollars in revenue. Popular beaches like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Tulum are deserted due to the lack of tourists.
Spain
Tourism accounts for 14.3% of Spain's GDP. If the lockdown lasts until September 2021, Spain will lose $68 billion in total revenue.
IDEA
This is one of the countries hardest hit by the epidemic. Tourism accounts for 13% of Italy's GDP. Famous tourist destinations are now like deserted towns.
Türkiye
Tourism accounts for 11.3% of Türkiye's GDP. In 2019, the country welcomed around 51 million foreign tourists, ranking it the 6th most popular destination in the world.
China
The tourism industry accounts for 11.3% of the GDP of the world's most populous country. According to 2017 statistics, there are 29 million Chinese people working in tourism-related fields.
Australia
The tourism industry accounts for 10.8% of Australia's GDP. Famous tourist destinations in this country include: Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Uluru,... In 2020, Australia not only faced the Covid-19 pandemic but also had to deal with the remnants of widespread bushfires.
Saudi Arabia
Tourism accounts for 9.5% of Saudi Arabia's GDP. It is the second most visited destination in the Middle East. Most visitors come for religious pilgrimages.
Virtue
Tourism accounts for 9.1% of Germany's GDP. With 38 million tourists visiting Germany in 2018, the country ranks 8th globally in terms of annual tourist arrivals.
Older brother
Tourism accounts for 9% of the UK's GDP. The majority of visitors to the UK are Americans. Before the outbreak, an estimated 4 million US tourists visited the UK each year.
America
The tourism industry accounts for 8.6% of the US GDP. 1.8 trillion USD is the amount of money the US earns from tourism services. With this huge amount of money, the US is at the top and far ahead of other countries when it comes to tourism profits.
France
The tourism industry accounts for 8.5% of France's GDP. The tourism industry brings in $229 billion for France. Although far behind the US, this is a very impressive figure in terms of per capita income.
Brazil
Tourism accounts for 7.7% of Brazil's GDP. With the pandemic situation in Brazil still very complicated, the nationwide lockdown is likely to continue.
Switzerland
Tourism accounts for 7.6% of Switzerland's GDP. The country is a popular destination for mountaineering and skiing enthusiasts. The majority of tourists to Switzerland are German.
Japan
Tourism accounts for 7% of the GDP of the Land of the Rising Sun. Japan attracted more than 30 million international tourists in 2018. Home to more than 21 world heritage sites, Japan is a top destination for tourists to Asia.
India
Tourism accounts for 6.8% of India's GDP. Tourist arrivals to India were on the rise before the outbreak. The majority of the country's tourism revenue comes from domestic tourists.
Canada
Tourism accounts for 6.3% of Canada's GDP. The country is largely dependent on exports, but tourism still contributes significantly to the country's total revenue. At the moment, Canada's borders remain closed to non-essential travel.
Netherlands
Tourism accounts for 5.7% of the Netherlands' GDP. Amsterdam has become more gloomy than ever due to social distancing orders. The city's airport used to be a hub for many international airlines traveling to Europe. However, due to the pandemic, the airport will continue to be deserted in the near future.
Indonesia
Tourism accounts for 5.7% of Indonesia's GDP. Statistics in 2018 show that the country welcomed more than 16 million international tourists, an increase of 1.9% compared to 2017. The number one destination of this country is the paradise island of Bali.
Russia
Tourism accounts for 5% of Russia's GDP. The country is home to 23 UNESCO World Heritage sites and has more under consideration. From Volga River cruises to Trans-Siberian trains, Russia is a popular destination for middle-aged travelers.
Korea
The tourism industry accounts for only 2.8% of South Korea's GDP, making it the least affected country on this list in terms of lost revenue due to the tourism shutdown. 2.8% is a small number, but it still has a huge impact on South Korea.
