Travel Industry Shows Unwavering Strength, Affirms New Study by WTTC and Global Rescue
In a groundbreaking study unveiled on November 4, 2019, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in partnership with Global Rescue, shed light on the impact of political instability on the Travel & Tourism sector. The research, which analysed 90 crises between 2001 and 2018, found that political instability significantly prolongs crisis recovery times.
The study highlighted that political instability causes some of the longest recovery periods for tourism economies, often extending beyond several years due to sustained safety concerns and policy uncertainty. Destinations affected by turmoil see immediate steep declines in visitor numbers, followed by a slow regain of traveler trust and demand.
The economic impact can be severe. For instance, political decisions in the US tourism sector led to $12.5 billion in losses in 2025, tied to declining international travel.
The report offers several recommendations to mitigate these impacts and accelerate recovery. These include strengthening crisis management capacities within the tourism sectors, promoting political stability, enhancing collaboration between public and private sectors, investing in rebuilding destination image, and leveraging data and insights from organisations like Global Rescue.
The findings underscore that while political instability poses a tough challenge for fast sector recovery, proactive governance and crisis preparedness play critical roles in reducing recovery times and preserving the economic benefits of Travel & Tourism. The report calls for a concerted effort from all stakeholders to ensure a resilient and sustainable Travel & Tourism sector.
- Rebuilding the tourism sectors after crises caused by political instability requires urgent attention to business matters, such as investing in rebuilding destination image, strengthening crisis management capacities, and enhancing collaboration between the public and private sectors.
- In order to preserve the economic benefits of the Travel & Tourism sector and mitigate the impacts of political instability, it's essential to prioritize political stability and promote collaborative efforts between industries like finance and lifestyle, which can work together to create policy certainty and address safety concerns for travelers.
