Before and after: Asian tourism hit by coronavirus fears

Tourist hotspots around the globe have been left almost empty as the Covid-19 virus continues to spread.

Images taken at some of the world's busiest landmarks show a lack of crowds as travellers avoid visiting countries where the coronavirus has struck.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Cambodia's most iconic temple has been left deserted as travellers avoid visiting public places.

Famed for its grand size and incredible sense of detail, the Khmer structure in the Siem Reap province of Cambodia usually welcomes more than two million visitors every year.

The Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand

One of Bangkok's most-visited landmarks, The Grand Palace in Thailand's capital is one of the city's most famous attractions.

The coronavirus has taken its toll on Thailand's tourism industry after several travel restrictions were put in place due to an outbreak of Covid-19 in the country.

Gyeongbokgung, Seoul, South Korea

Visitors to South Korea usually have Gyeongbokgung Palace on their bucket lists. The first and largest of the royal palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty, it is located at the heart of the country's capital and is popular for its night-time tours. South Korea is among the countries most severely affected by coronavirus.

Bali, Indonesia

March is typically off-peak season in Bali as the islands see some of their wettest days, but this year crowds are even thinner than normal. Despite no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Indonesian hotspot, tourism has suffered majorly after the government imposed travel bans to and from mainland China. Around a million Chinese tourists typically visit Bali ever year.

Sensō-ji temple, Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo's oldest temple is one of the world's most widely visited spiritual sites. Dating back to 645, the tourist hotpot typically attracts around 30 million visitors ever year. This year, the temple has seen a sharp drop in the number of travellers coming to admire the vibrant red buildings

The Bund, Shanghai, China

The Bund is the iconic waterfront area in central Shanghai that's typically thronging with visitors who come to see its towering skyscrapers and old colonial buildings. A symbol of Shanghai, the region has become akin to a ghost city as travellers stay away.

Sydney Opera House, Australia

One of Australia's most loved icons, the Sydney Opera House is the face of the New South Wales city. Featuring on the bucket lists of travellers from across the globe, the iconic structure has been eerily quiet as visitor numbers to Australia have fallen due to coronavirus. February is typically the busiest month for Chinese tourists in Australia due to the Lunar New Year holidays.

Tiananmen, Beijing, China

The Tiananmen — also known as the Gate of Heavenly Peace — is a monumental gate in the centre of Beijing that was the entrance to the Imperial City. Travellers are nowhere to be seen in this image of what is one of the city's most visited tourist attractions.

Hong Kong, China

The usually bustling Hong Kong has become a ghost down due to the spread of coronavirus. After months of protests that had already emptied Hong Kong hotels and sent travellers scurrying from landmarks, the impact of Covid-19 could be a knockout blow for the region.

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