It also forecast the global sector could contribute $8.6 trillion to the global GDP this year, 6.4% behind pre-pandemic levels.

Meanwhile, the council claimed the industry could see a net gain in jobs of 1.7% compared to pre-pandemic levels, resulting in some 4.3 million people being employed within the sector by the end of the year.

The WTTC urged global governments to remove the "patchwork" of restrictions, allow the fully vaccinated to travel freely and enable international travel using digital solutions.

Julia Simpson, WTTC president and chief executive, said travel to and from the UK is "poised for a full recovery".

"While the UK was one of the worst hit in terms of the sector’s contribution to GDP, the future is looking positive," she added.

"But this will depend on the government keeping to its pledge to re-open UK Plc and not reintroducing the chaotic travel restrictions that actually had zero impact on the spread of the virus."