The coronavirus has global tourism firmly in its grip. The situation is particularly dramatic in Asia. The European tourism industry is also becoming increasingly nervous.
Empty hotels, cancelled flights, closed tourist sights. The coronavirus is crippling global tourism. The industry is already expecting losses running into billions.
The crisis in Europe is still growing: Since the outbreak in Italy, popular tourist destinations are often deserted. In Venice and Milan, museums, theaters and places of interest remain closed, major events have been cancelled. In France, too, the Louvre remains closed for a third consecutive day because employees have stopped working for fear of infection.
Meanwhile in Germany, following the cancellation of the International Tourism Fair (ITB), people are more concerned over the impact of travel cancellations from the Asia. The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) expects overnight stays from China to fall by between 17 and 25%. As tourists from China make a significant contribution to sales, amounting to around €8 billion ($9 billion) a year, the losses are likely to have a severe impact on tourism in Germany too.
Popular destinations like Heidelberg Castle expect fewer visitors
“We will certainly feel the effects of this slump,” Mathias Schiemer, managing director of Heidelberg City Marketing, told DW in an interview. The city on the Neckar River is one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists in Germany. Although, as Schiemer explains, figures are not yet available, one thing is certain: “We will not be able to compensate for this loss.”
Asian countries hardest hit
The situation in Asia is more dramatic than in Europe. Of the approximately 150 million trips abroad made by Chinese people, a full 90% go to Asian countries. Chinese tourists have become a decisive economic factor there. However, because most airlines have discontinued their connections to China, the affluent guests from the People’s Republic have largely stayed away.
