Zeitschrift für Tourismusforschung und Gastgewerbe

A Mutual Threat Problem for Tourism Restrictions in the Context of COVID-19

Chris Ryan

The coronavirus disease pandemic of 2019 (COVID-19) is one of the most shocking global crises in recent history. COVID-19 has affected over 100 million people and killed over 2 million people worldwide as of January 31, 2021, according to data from Wuhan, China. The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are not limited to public health. Mobility restrictions and a halt in the economy have resulted in historical declines in every nation on the planet. In the EU, GDP is expected to fall by nearly 8% in 2020, and most tourismdependent countries are expected to see a dramatic drop in GDP (e.g., 12% in Spain, 10% in Italy, and 9% in Greece, to name three of the most affected).