Without strong support, the sudden and unexpected fall in tourism could devastate the economies of small island developing states (SIDS), the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has warned.

Since tourism is a strong socio-economic pillar of many such destinations, the impact that Covid-19 is having on the sector places millions of jobs and businesses at risk, with women and informal workers the most vulnerable.

In the second of its briefing note series on tourism and COVID-19, UNWTO has highlighted the severe impact the pandemic could have on livelihoods in these destinations.

According to the latest data from the United Nations specialised agency, tourism accounts for more than 30 per cent of total exports in the majority of the 38 SIDS.

In some countries, this proportion is as high as 90 per cent, making them especially vulnerable to falling tourist numbers.

Such a major shock translates into a massive loss of jobs and a sharp decline in foreign exchange and tax revenues, which curbs public spending capacity and the ability to deploy necessary measures to support livelihoods through the crisis, UNWTO further warns.

International tourist arrivals have fallen dramatically, and destinations that rely on the sector for jobs and economic wellbeing such as small islands will be hit the hardest

In 2019, SIDS welcomed some 44 million international tourist arrivals and the sector earned US$55 billion in export revenues.

International tourist arrivals were down 47 per cent in the first four months of this year.

UNWTO secretary general, Zurab Pololikashvili, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented disruption.

“International tourist arrivals have fallen dramatically, and destinations that rely on the sector for jobs and economic wellbeing such as small islands will be hit the hardest.

“As such, measures to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on these states and to stimulate the recovery of tourism are now more critical than ever.”

The United Nations estimates that SIDS economies could shrink by 4.7 per cent in 2020 as compared to three per cent for the world economy.

The UNWTO Briefing Note also highlights the risk posed to those working in the informal economy by the sudden fall in tourist arrivals in SIDS.

As a sector, tourism is a leading global employer and, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), more than half of all workers in the accommodation and food services sector in most SIDS reporting data are women.

At the same time, workers in the informal economy are at risk of falling into poverty as the impact of Covid-19 is felt in SIDS and other low- and middle-income countries worldwide, UNWTO also warns.