FROM RESUMPTION TO RENEWAL

The author is deputy director of the Experts Committee of the World Tourism Cities Federation

While the SARS virus in 2003 and the 2008-2009 global economic crisis both affected the global tourism industry to different extent, the impacts of the events were far from severe compared with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) this year, which has brought about a widespread contraction and great uncertainties. According to a report released by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on May 20, all of the global destinations continued to have restrictions on travel in place, and 72 percent were completely closed to international tourism.