Destinations Ease Restrictions, Remain Cautious: UNWTO
New research from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) indicates that destinations are cautiously easing travel restrictions introduced in response to COVID-19 as they move towards reopening.
The UNWTO’s newly released Global Guidelines for Reopening Tourism signal a transition into gearing up for stronger and better recovery, with 3% of all global destinations having now taken steps to ease travel restrictions.
UNWTO has been monitoring the global response to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. The fourth edition of its COVID-19 Related Travel Restrictions: A Global Review for Tourism report, once again looked at the measures of 217 destinations worldwide as of May 18.
The research revealed that 7 destinations have eased travel restrictions for international tourism purposes. At the same time, several more destinations are engaged in significant discussions about the re-opening of borders.
However, the report notes that 100% of all destinations worldwide continue to have some form of COVID-19-related travel restrictions in place.
Furthermore, as of May 18, 75% continued to have their borders completely closed for international tourism.
In 37% of all cases, travel restrictions have been in place for 10 weeks, while 24% of global destinations have had restrictions in place for 14 weeks or more.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The timely and responsible easing of travel restrictions will help ensure the many social and economic benefits that tourism guarantees will return in a sustainable way. This will contribute to the livelihoods of many millions of people around the world. The sector is a driver of sustainable development and a pillar of economies. UNWTO stresses the need for vigilance, responsibility and international cooperation as the world slowly opens up again.”
And the UNWTO continues to stress the need for vigilance, responsibility and international cooperation as the world slowly opens up again
Pololikashvili welcomed the growing confidence in the global tourism sector, noting it stands ready to return to growth. While tourism has been the hardest hit of all the world’s major economic sectors, UNWTO has led a joint response and last week released its Global Guidelines to Reopen Tourism. These guidelines outline the steps governments and the private sector can take to accelerate recovery in the months ahead.
Taking a deeper dive into global travel restrictions, the UNWTO research shows that, the more important tourism is to the economies of individual destinations, the more likely they are to have introduced complete border closures.
In the case of SIDS destinations (Small Island Developing States), 85% continue to have their borders completely closed for tourism purposes.
All UNWTO regions have more than 65% of their destinations completely closed to tourism: Africa (74%), Americas (86%), Asia and the Pacific (67%), Europe (74%) and the Middle East (69%).
The COVID-19-Related Travel Restrictions report also breaks down the level and type of travel restrictions in place, including prevalence of flight suspensions and measures including compulsory self-isolation and quarantine of tourist arrivals.
Go to www.unwto.org for more.
