Tourism is a major industry that contributes significantly to the global economy. Many countries around the world rely heavily on tourism to drive economic growth and development. In this article, we will take a closer look at which country is the most dependent on tourism.
What Is Tourism?
Before delving into the topic, it’s essential to understand what tourism means. Tourism refers to activities that involve traveling to a place that’s different from one’s usual environment for either leisure or business purposes. These activities can include visiting attractions, sightseeing, attending events, and more.
Measuring Dependence on Tourism
To determine which country is most dependent on tourism, we need to look at its relative contribution to the country’s GDP. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) measures the economic impact of tourism in each country by calculating its direct and indirect contributions to GDP. The direct contribution includes expenditures by tourists, while indirect contributions include spending by related industries such as transportation and accommodation.
Based on data from 2019, the ten countries with the highest dependence on tourism are:
1. Mexico: 15.5% of GDP
2. Spain: 14.3% of GDP
3. Italy: 13% of GDP
4.
Turkey: 11.3% of GDP
5. China: 11% of GDP
6. Thailand: 9% of GDP
7. India: 7% of GDP
8. France: 6.8% of GDP
9.Portugal:6%ofGDP
10.Greece:6%ofGDP
As you can see from the above list, Mexico tops the chart as the most dependent country on tourism with a staggering 15.5% contribution to its national economy.
Impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on the tourism industry worldwide. Many countries had to close their borders and impose travel restrictions to curb the spread of the virus, which resulted in a significant decline in tourism activities. As a result, many countries that were heavily dependent on tourism suffered significant economic losses.
Mexico, for instance, is expected to lose 22.1% of its GDP due to the pandemic’s impact on tourism. Spain and Italy are also likely to face a decline of around 20%, while Greece is predicted to lose 21.6% of its GDP.
Conclusion
Tourism plays an essential role in many countries’ economies and provides employment opportunities for millions of people worldwide. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us, dependence on tourism can also make countries vulnerable to economic shocks. To mitigate this risk, many countries are now exploring alternative economic sectors that can supplement their revenue streams.
In conclusion, Mexico is currently the most dependent country on tourism globally. However, with the pandemic’s ongoing impact on global tourism activities, it remains uncertain how long this will continue to be the case.