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Plans for international trips in 2020 were brought to an abrupt halt by the Covid-19 pandemic. Around the world, once-crowded sights lay dormant.

The statistics speak for themselves. On 13 October, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that international traffic “has all but disappeared”, with airlines carrying only about 10% of normal levels.

By IATA’s estimate, Covid-caused disruptions put more than 41 million jobs at risk across the travel and tourism sector.

In the absence of travellers, tourism boards, hotels and destinations have turned to virtual reality (VR) — a technology still in its relative infancy — to keep would-be visitors interested and prepare for the long road to recovery.

What began for many as a temporary stop-gap measure may now be a long-term tool. IATA predicts that travel will not resume to pre-pandemic levels until 2024.

Faced with a new reality of diminished tourism, many believe that Covid-19 might be the watershed moment for VR that changes perceptions from a clever and occasional marketing trick to a permanent fixture of tourism marketing.

Internet: <www.bbc.com> (adapted).