HALLE, BELGIUM -- The European Union says its vaunted tourist industry is facing "staggering" figures of decline because of the coronavirus crisis and the bloc's internal market commissioner wants the sector to be first in line when it comes to recovery funds.
Europe is hardly alone in facing hardship -- what with the deserted waterfront under Cape Town's Table Mountain and the closed-off pyramids outside Cairo. But Breton said the European market accounts for half of world tourism. Based on information from international institutions and trade groups, Breton said that "we are looking at quite staggering figures," adding that between 275 and 400 billion euros would be lost for the tourism and travel industry because of the pandemic.
Making things worse is that some countries that are specifically hard-hit by the coronavirus are also heavily dependent on tourism, like Italy and Spain.
I thought tourism would be up that’s weird I would like a second opinion
Where is tourism not being dealt a 'staggering' blow
Wow!!! Your reporters don't miss a thing.🙃 Yikes!!!
Who and why are we discussing tourism during a pandemic? Seriously WTF!!!
European tourism has been declining for years. More likely to do with mass immigration than some virus.
Well, in Barcelona and Venice they were bitching about the pesky tourists... there you have, eat cake
Send China the bills like Germany did
Whoever wrote this clearly needs a promotion
No kidding.
Who would’ve guessed