The WTTC said the UK government’s “attack” on the industry during the new variant surge had “proved ineffective at halting Omicron and devastating for the sector”.

The WTTC estimates the lost contribution from the sector to the global economy reached £25.7 billion due to the impact of worldwide travel restrictions to combat the spread of the new variant.
 
Julia Simpson, WTTC president and chief executive, said: “Imposing unnecessary travel restrictions to ‘deal’ with Omicron was not backed by science and cost the UK economy £7 billion in lost revenues.
 
“Travel is opening up worldwide. If the UK is going to start to repair its economy, it needs to keep borders open.”
 
According to WTTC’s 2021 Economic Impact Report, the number of those employed in the UK travel and tourism sector fell from 4.27 million in 2019 to 3.96 million in 2020 – a fall of 7.2%.
 
In 2019, the global travel and tourism sector generated nearly $9.2 trillion. This fell by 49% in 2020.
 
The WTTC said the rebound of the industry meant losses had narrowed, with WTTC research showing the global sector could grow to $8.6 trillion this year, just 6.4% behind pre-pandemic levels.