According to the figures from the latest edition of the Travel Restrictions Report from the United Nations, it has been shown that since June 1, 29 per cent of destinations all over the world have their borders entirely closed for international tourism.
Of these destinations, more than half of them have been completely closed to tourist arrivals since May 2020 or longer, with the majority of countries belonging to the Small Island Development States of Asia and the Pacific.
In contrast, only three destinations, Albania, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic, are completely open to tourist arrivals, without any restrictions in place, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
One in three of all destinations, or more precisely 34 per cent, are currently partially closed, and 36 per cent of them require the tourists to present a negative COVID-19 test result upon their arrival, in some cases along with a quarantine requirement.
“The data confirms the trend towards destinations adopting more nuanced, evidence-and-risk-based approaches to restrictions on travel, particularly in light of the evolving epidemiological situation and the emergence of new variants of the virus,” the World Tourism Organization statement reads.
In addition, 42 per cent of all destinations have introduced distinct restrictions for travellers arriving from countries where the COVID-19 variants have widely spread by suspending flights, closing the borders, or imposing compulsory quarantine requirements.
Since most destinations that keep strict measures have the lowest vaccination rates, UNWTO noted that the data suggests a link between easing of restrictions and vaccination speed.
In contrast, destinations that have higher vaccination rates and countries that can work together on harmonised protocols and rules, such as those utilised in the Schengen Area, are better placed to allow tourism to return gradually.
“Governments are instrumental for the restart and recovery of tourism through…