The latest research compiled by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), reveals that more than two million jobs could be created if international travel reopens before the busy summer period.
However, if current restrictions continue and international travel is not allowed to resume at a greater capacity over the next few months, WTTC warns that the potential U.S. job recovery will be cut in half, to only one million generated.
WTTC’s latest economic modeling found that $105 billion in the U.S.’s Travel & Tourism sector contribution to the national economy is at stake should travel not resume.
WTTC fears that if immediate steps are not taken for the U.S. to re-establish international travel now, the impact on the economy and the livelihoods of millions of those who work in the sector could be devastating.
Virginia Messina, WTTC Senior Vice President, said: “The EU looks set to launch its Digital COVID Certificate later this month, a move that will allow vaccinated travelers to visit the bloc. This new measure holds the potential to unlock international travel, and should the U.S. not follow suit by loosening travel restrictions this summer, the continued closures could have a lasting negative impact on jobs within Travel & Tourism, the sector’s contribution to the GDP, and delay the country’s economic recovery.
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