The UK has suffered the seventh greatest tourism revenue loss worldwide due to the Covid-19 pandemic, latest data reveals.
Global travel and tourism contributed $8.9 trillion to the world’s GDP last year.
But the financial impact of Covid-19 travel bans and cancellations has resulted in a total global tourism revenue loss of $195 billion in the first four months of 2020 alone.
The US suffered the greatest decline in tourism revenue at $30.9 billion in the period.
Spain had the second largest impact at $9.7 billion with a reported drop of 98% in international tourist arrivals in June alone.
The UK figure is estimated at $5.8 billion, against $8.7 billion for France, $7.8 billion for Thailand, $7.2 billion for Germany and $6.2 billion for Italy.
However, countries within the Caribbean make up 50% of those which have suffered the highest percentage loss in GDP, with Turks and Caicos Islands, Aruba, Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia and Grenada all ranking as among the worst affected.
Jayne Forrester, director of international development at visa firm Official ESTA, which carried out the study, said: “The last few months have undoubtedly been extremely difficult for the travel and tourism industry.
“In the midst of the global pandemic, many popular holiday destinations have had to close their borders to tourists and the financial impact this has brought on world tourism has not only impacted all countries around the world but also airlines and travel operators.
“As travel came to a standstill for many months, countries around the world that rely on tourism for their economy and jobs are now seeing significant drops in revenue and GDP.
“Taking into account how travel and tourism contributes $8.9 trillion to the world’s GDP alone, it is devastating to see a total loss of $195 billion worldwide in the first four months of 2020 alone.
“As travel bans have started to ease off from July, we only hope that we see no more significant losses to one of the largest growing sectors in the world.”