The toll of civilian casualties from the war in Ukraine stands at more than 1,500, with 549 killed and 957 injured according to figures released Thursday by the United Nations.
But the agency says it believes the actual death toll is “considerably higher” – and certainly the tragic and devastating impacts, from both a humanitarian and economic perspective, are much more widespread.
It has been more than two weeks since Russia invaded its neighboring country, initiating the largest conventional military attack on a sovereign state in Europe since World War II.[–newsletter id=’1′–]
Many companies in the travel and tourism industry have responded, including global distribution systems blocking fares from Aeroflot, companies including Tripadvisor, Expedia and Booking blocking sales from Russian suppliers, Google announcing yesterday it is pausing ads for all Russia-based advertisers and Hilton, Airbnb and others initiating programs to aid refugees.
To discuss the impact, both now and in the longer term, if the crisis continues, PhocusWire convened leaders from across the industry for an online event Thursday, called PhocusWire Flash: Crisis in Ukraine.
Joining PhocusWire’s Kevin May were Julia Simpson, CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council; Brian Hoyt, head of global communications and industry affairs at Tripadvisor; and Nikita Dedik, founder and CEO of Road.Travel.
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