Saudi FM: G20 'Ready to Intervene with Necessary Policies' over Coronavirus

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan speaks at the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank heads. SPA
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan speaks at the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank heads. SPA
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Saudi FM: G20 'Ready to Intervene with Necessary Policies' over Coronavirus

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan speaks at the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank heads. SPA
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan speaks at the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank heads. SPA

Finance leaders of the world's top 20 economies have agreed to continue monitoring the risks of the coronavirus outbreak, Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said Sunday.

"We have discussed the outbreak of coronavirus in China and other countries and all the G20 countries agreed collectively on being ready to intervene with necessary policies," Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan told a news conference.

The Group of 20 (G20) finance ministers and central bank heads faced a sober presentation by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which predicted the epidemic would shave 0.1 percentage points off global growth.

"Global growth is expected to pick up modestly in 2020 and 2021. The recovery is supported by the continuation of accommodative financial conditions and some signs of easing trade tensions," the communique from the financial leaders, who met in Riyadh, said.

In his press conference, Jadaan said that Saudi Arabia continues to support Lebanon and its people, and that it is following its developments.

The Saudi Finance Minister said that the Kingdom is in contact with other countries to coordinate any possible support to Lebanon based on the economic reforms that Beirut should implement.



Travel Industry to Contribute Record $11 Trillion to Global GDP in 2024

Tourists check a souvenir stand while walking around the Grand-Place square, in central Brussels, Belgium, 31 August 2024. (EPA)
Tourists check a souvenir stand while walking around the Grand-Place square, in central Brussels, Belgium, 31 August 2024. (EPA)
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Travel Industry to Contribute Record $11 Trillion to Global GDP in 2024

Tourists check a souvenir stand while walking around the Grand-Place square, in central Brussels, Belgium, 31 August 2024. (EPA)
Tourists check a souvenir stand while walking around the Grand-Place square, in central Brussels, Belgium, 31 August 2024. (EPA)

A record $1 out of every $10 spent globally in 2024 will be on travel as people briskly book hotels, cruises and flights, according to an annual report by the World Travel and Tourism Council, a non-profit membership organization.

The travel and tourism industry's contribution to global gross domestic product is expected to reach new heights as consumers increasingly see travel as an essential part of their budgets.

The WTTC estimates the industry's contribution to global GDP in 2024 will increase 12.1% year-over-year to $11.1 trillion, making up 10% of global GDP. This represents about a 7.5% increase from the previous record set in 2019.

"Despite some concerns last year about us going into a global recession and high inflation, this year we are looking at travel and tourism being a real economic powerhouse globally," said Julia Simpson, CEO of the non-profit organization.

Travel spending in the US, Chinese and German economies is expected to contribute the most to GDP.

The sector is expected to support nearly 348 million jobs in 2024, or 13.6 million jobs more than in 2019, the previous record prior to the pandemic. The industry is still hiring to fill jobs in the rapidly expanding field.

In the United States, there are currently 1 million job openings across the leisure and hospitality industry, according to the US Travel Association. Total employment supported in the US was about 27 million jobs in 2023, according to the WTTC.