Since the novel coronavirus began to spread across the world, and as many Chinese citizens face travel restrictions, the financial implications are starting to reach international shores. Kyoto, Japan, usually bustling with tourists this time of year, launched an "empty tourism" campaign to try and entice people back to the city.
And in Boston, "Boston Globe" travel writer Christopher Muther told Boston Public Radio on Tuesday the impacts of Chinese tourists unable to fly to America may affect its economy too.
"I think the tourism risk, the risk of the impact of tourism in Boston has grown significantly. Last year Chinese tourists spent about $600 million in Boston, they're our largest outside overseas group," he said. "Right now, no one really wants to talk about it. Everyone wants to wait and see what happens, but on the other hand this isn't something that's going to go away soon."
Muther, who's recent "Boston Globe" piece examined the potential impacts of COVID-19 on local tourism, said the city hasn't been willing to publicly discuss the implications.
"Hotels didn't want to talk about cancellations, the city didn't want to talk about convention cancellations," he said. "The city really needs to start reaching out, the city focused on bringing in those Chinese tourists for years and years, and now when I ask the question, 'Are you going to start pursuing other markets?' ... No one really wanted to say anything yet."
