Crisis in Spanish tourism sector could cost up to 1.5 mln jobs:expert

MADRID, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- The crisis caused by the coronavirus to the Spanish tourism sector could cost up to 1.5 million jobs and losses of 120,000 million euros (141,000 million U.S. dollars) this year, said Carlos Abella Picazo, Secretary-General of Spanish organization "Mesa del Turismo" which represents the interests of all sectors of the Spanish tourist industry.

Abella Picazo told Xinhua on Sunday that the coronavirus crisis had had a "tremendous" effect on the sector. His words came after the Spanish Statistical Office (INE) said on Oct. 2 that August saw a 76 percent fall in the number of foreign tourists visiting Spain and a 79 percent reduction in spending by foreign tourists.