One of the strategic sectors most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic was tourism. In recent decades, in Ecuador, it has become one of the most dynamic and fastest growing sectors. The importance of this activity as an engine for job creation and the promotion of economic development, culture and local products has an impact on several areas of the country's economy, contributing to job creation, particularly for women and young people.
According to the National Survey of Employment, Unemployment and Underemployment (Enemdu) of the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), in 2019 there were more than 600 thousand people who declared tourism as their occupation, the vast majority of them women. In the world this sector, as of 2019, generated around 330 million jobs. In addition, it should be noted that most tourism companies are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. It is estimated that more than 50% of those jobs have been lost during these months.
The measures adopted to support tourism and save jobs and income will be decisive for the sector in the near future and will be especially important for MSMEs. Spain in December 2021 was the only country in the European Union that did not request Ecuadorian travelers an RT-PCR with 72 hours of validity, it was not an accident or a slip, that decision caused the arrival of thousands of tourists to that country.
Denmark, Sweden, France, Spain, Israel have decided to remove many or all barriers imposed by the emergence of the Omicron variant, it is time to think about the same for our country. Spring is approaching in Europe and it is a good time to report smart and pragmatic biosecurity measures.
During the first week of February there was a drop of almost 50% in the number of infections in the country, 35,000 new infections, compared to 57,000 the week of January 10. In the world, the same trend is observed, the United States had 3 million daily infections and yesterday, February 8, had 194,000 new infections, Spain dropped from more than 200,000 daily infections in December to 43,000 on February 8.
It is time to strongly support the tourism sector, both local and international, the government must give messages of confidence in international fairs, our major cities have more than 85% of their population vaccinated, we have a position of co-responsibility in biosecurity standards and tropical sun with UV rays that kill viruses and bacteria.
As a Research Center, with more than 70 scientific papers published on COVID in high impact indexed journals, we recommend the elimination of barriers that have proven to be useless in the spread of the virus, the best example is the arrival of the alpha variant with an Ecuadorian leaving London with negative PCR and 10 days later positive in Valencia, province of Los Rios. Let us follow the example of our neighbors Peru and Colombia who do not require 72-hour PCR-RT to enter those countries.
Let's manage the pandemic.
Fernando Espinoza Ph.D.
UEES Research Center
