Tourism and travel businesses across the world have joined forces to provide millions of hotel rooms to support Ukrainian refugees escaping the conflict in their country.
They have ‘united in providing help to those affected by this crisis’, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Among its members are ‘Airbnb, Hilton, and Uber’.
Picture: Unsplash / Robert Paul Jensen
In neighbouring countries these businesses are providing urgent supplies, clothing, transport, rooms and finance to the desperate refugees. Many businesses, both large and small, have also made multimillion-pound donations to disaster relief funds to help those affected by the conflict.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia ‘is the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since WW2’, says Saxo Bank, the Danish global financial services company. It reports that from 25 February to 5 March, Ukrainian refugees numbered 1.5 million, of whom about one million are now in Poland.
Breaking Travel News has reported that hotels in Ukraine are now serving as bases for people displaced by the conflict, journalists and charities.
‘There has been an outpouring of support from travel and tourism companies across the globe,’ said Julia Simpson, WTTC president and CEO.
‘Hotels have opened their doors receiving refugees, and in Ukraine, teams on the ground are keeping hotels open for aid agencies, journalists, and those stranded and desperate.
‘Cruise lines and airlines have transported supplies, and across the board the response has been incredible, and I salute the courage of teams on the ground.
‘WTTC and our Members stand for peace and respecting the national sovereignty of every nation and our hearts go out to all those who are suffering from this brutal invasion.’
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