Global tourism lost £244 billion in five months – UN

Soldiers disinfect the Christ the Redeemer site (AP)

The global tourism industry has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, with 320 billion US dollars (£244 billion) lost in exports in the first five months of the year and more than 120 million jobs put at risk, the UN chief has said.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a policy briefing and video address that tourism is the third-largest export sector of the global economy, behind fuels and chemicals, and in 2019 it accounted for 7% of global trade.