international travel is expected to fall by as much as 10.5% this year, the biggest year on year drop as the rapid spread of coronavirus sows chaos across the tourism and leisure sector, according to industry consultancy Tourism Economics. The latest estimate is a big downgrade from two weeks ago, when the consultancy was using the 2003 SARS outbreak as its benchmark and estimated travel rates would fall by 1.5%.
In a downside scenario, travel would drop as much as 17.9%, the company, which is part of Oxford economics, said in a research. A small british company that makes honey and gin is to start producing alcohol-based hand sanitizer products by the end of the week to tackle a national shortage sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.
The british Honey Company said its distillery in Buckinghamshire, southern england, will start producing hand sanitiser after receiving permission from Britain's treasury. Chief Executive Michael Williams said Being able to produce such an in demand product within our existing capabilities enhances our existing business model at the same time as assisting with the efforts to combat the spread of Covid-19. Britain's government has urged leading companies such as ford and Rolls Royce to help in the national push to produce more medical products such as ventilators.
