Airlines ticket sales down by 700m in 2019 on xenophobic attacks visa restrictions

I couldn't find any credible sources indicating that airline ticket sales decreased by $700 million in 2019 due to xenophobic attacks and visa restrictions. While xenophobic attacks and visa restrictions can have a significant impact on tourism and travel, the specific figure of $700 million is not supported by any reliable data or reports.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global air travel demand declined by 1.5% in 2019 compared to the previous year, mainly due to economic uncertainty, trade tensions, and geopolitical tensions. However, IATA did not attribute this decline to xenophobic attacks or visa restrictions specifically.

It's worth noting that xenophobic attacks and visa restrictions can have a disproportionate impact on certain regions or countries, particularly those with a high reliance on tourism. For example, South Africa's tourism industry was severely affected by xenophobic attacks in 2019, with many countries issuing travel advisories and warning their citizens against traveling to the country.

However, without specific data or reports, it's difficult to quantify the exact impact of xenophobic attacks and visa restrictions on airline ticket sales. If you have any specific sources or references that support the claim, I'd be happy to take a closer look.