These Countries Are the Most Dependent on Tourism

These Countries Are the Most Dependent on Tourism

When COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, it put travelers around the world into a frenzy. Those who were at home began working with airlines to cancel upcoming travel plans and try to guess a safe time to reschedule trips they'd paid for already. Travelers who were abroad scrambled to get a seat on one of the remaining flights home, before borders were closed and lockdowns were put in place. And once strict travel restrictions were implemented, many foreign tourists—including more than 13,000 Americans—were left stranded in their vacation destinations, unsure when or if they'd be able to get home safely.Day2505 / Shutterstock

As devastating as the pandemic has been on those who love to travel, it's been far worse for countries that depend on a steady stream of visitors to bolster their economies and support local jobs. In fact, data from the World Economic Forum shows that around one in 10 people across the globe work in tourism, and the industry has been responsible for about a quarter of all net new jobs created worldwide between 2014 and 2019.Popular tourism destinations have been hemorrhaging jobs and losing huge amounts of revenue while people are stuck at home. The United Nations