The international tourism industry could lose up to 30 to 50 U.S. dollars in 2020 estimated Madrid-based World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on Friday as a result of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

This is UNWTO's first assessment regarding the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the global tourism industry. Compared with the previously predicted positive growth of 3-4 percent in the international tourist arrivals in 2020, UNWTO said that arrivals were now projected to fall by one to three percent.

The organization expected the Asia and the Pacific region to be the worst-affected, with "an anticipated fall in arrivals of nine percent to 12 percent." However, it says that estimates for other regions are "currently premature in view of the rapidly evolving situation." For that reason, the UNWTO also added that "any estimate must be treated with caution and is likely to be updated."

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili noted that the economic damage of the reduction in tourist numbers will be felt across the whole tourism sector. He also pointed out that "small and medium-sized enterprises make up around 80 percent of the tourism sector and are particularly exposed with millions of livelihoods across the world, including within vulnerable communities, relying on tourism."

Despite the unprecedented damage to global tourism, the UNWTO said that the sector has shown itself in the past to be "highly resilient," and able to "bounce back strongly" and as such will be able to play a key part in the future economic recovery.

It also called for financial and political support for recovery measures aimed at tourism, and to include support for the sector in the wider recovery plans and actions of affected economies.

So far, the novel coronavirus outbreak has led to over 100,000 infections worldwide, with over 3,000 fatalities.

Read more: Over 100,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported globally

(With input from Xinhua)