Srinagar, April 9 -- The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the global tourism landscape, presenting both challenges and opportunities for governments, businesses, and travelers. Once a thriving industry, tourism came to a near halt in 2020, marking one of the darkest periods in its history. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council's annual Economic Impact Report, the sector suffered a staggering loss of nearly $4.9 trillion in GDP-a 50.4% decline-and saw the elimination of 62 million jobs worldwide, an 18.6% drop. To put this into perspective, Germany's GDP in 2021 was approximately $4.22 trillion, underscoring the severity of the pandemic's impact on tourism.Despite the devastating blow, the industry has begun to rebound. However, this r...