COVID-19: IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY: TRAVEL, LOGISTICS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE PRACTICE

Abstract

COVID-19 is, first and foremost, a global humanitarian challenge.

Thousands of health professionals are heroically battling the virus, putting their own lives at risk. Governments and industry are working together to understand and address the challenge, support victims and their families and communities, and working for treatments and vaccines. Connectivity is a crucial element for economic development and to achieve the SDGs: Zero hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production and Climate Action. Transport provides access to educational facilities, jobs, markets, schools, essential services and to affordable food options for all. Logistics it is also a necessity for inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction and social progress, and a resilient transport infrastructure is a key robust supply chain and good movements. In 2020, the transport sector globally has been affected by the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease. COVID-19 was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, with the earliest known symptomatic case being revealed on 1 December 2019. It was later declared as a Public Health Emergency by the World Health Organization on 30 January 2020, and, subsequently, as a pandemic on 11 March 2020. As of 17 June 2020, 7.94 million of cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the world, with about 435,000 deaths in approximately 185 countries, and according to Ministries of Health there have been 6,413 confirmed cases, 147 deaths and 1,272 recovered cases in CARICOM members states, in the English-speaking Caribbean. In early March 2020, the first imported case of COVID-19 was reported in the India and many countries affecting the transport sector. As a result, countries in the region scaled-up their response to deal with it in the different phases of the pandemic, at first restrictions for travellers from certain destinations were applied, eventually resulting in the closure of borders to all international arrivals except for cargo, while searching for solutions to control the spread of the virus and mitigate its economic and social effects. So far, the COVID-19 pandemic has been the most significant global crisis of the 21st century mainly affecting global production, international trade, transportation, disrupting supply-chains, and economically impacting companies and financial markets. Furthermore, the magnitude of the impact of COVID-19 depends on the duration of the pandemic, its spread, and countries’ prevention and response measures to contain the shock.