With several destinations easing their travel restrictions and with the global vaccination rollout advancing in many parts of the world, international tourism has seen signs of a rebound in June and July this year.
Based on the latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, around 54 million tourists have crossed international borders only in July 2021, this way indicating a decrease of 67 per cent compared to the same month in 2019, but the highest since April 2020, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
“There is clearly a strong demand for international tourism, and many destinations have started welcoming visitors back safely and responsibly. However, the true restart of tourism and the benefits it brings remain on hold as inconsistent rules and regulations and uneven vaccination rates continue to affect confidence in travel,” UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said.
According to a press release issued today, October 4, by the World Tourism Organization, most destinations saw a moderate rebound in international travel during June and July compared to 2020. However, 2021 remains a challenging year for global tourism since international arrivals have been down by 80 per cent in the first six months of 2021 compared to 2019.
The travel and tourism sector in Asia and the Pacific had the weakest results in the period January to July, registering a 95 per cent decline in international arrivals compared to the pre-pandemic period. The second-largest decline was registered in the Middle East (-82 per cent), followed by Europe and Africa (-77 per cent).
On the other hand, the Americas saw a smaller decline (-68 per cent), with the Caribbean having the best performance among subregions all over the world.
In addition, some small European destinations had the best performance in June and July, with arrivals close to or exceeding the levels registered before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019.
The relaxation of travel restrictions for persons who have been fully…