“International tourism rebounded moderately in the second half of 2021, with arrivals in the third and fourth quarters being 62% lower than before the pandemic. Based on limited data, international tourist arrivals in December were 65% lower than those of 2019”, stands out in this first report of the year.
With doubts about the impact that the omicron variant and the wave of Covid-19 infections will have, the work highlights that “the pace of recovery continues to be slow and uneven in the different regions of the world, due to the different degrees of mobility restrictions, vaccination rates and traveler confidence.
Europe and the Americas recorded the best results in 2021 compared to 2020 (+19% and +17% respectively), but both are still 63% below pre-pandemic levels.
By subregion, the Caribbean recorded the best results (+63% above 2020, although 37% below 2019), with some destinations approaching or exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
Southern Mediterranean Europe (+57%) and Central America (+54%) also enjoyed a significant rebound, but remain 54% and 56% respectively below 2019 levels, while North America (+ 17%) and Central and Eastern Europe (+18%) also exceeded 2020 levels.
Meanwhile, Africa saw a 12% increase in arrivals in 2021 compared to 2020, although they are still 74% lower than in 2019, and in the Middle East, arrivals decreased by 24% compared to 2020 and 79% compared to 2020. to 2019.
Meanwhile, arrivals in Asia and the Pacific remained 65% below 2020 levels and 94% below pre-pandemic values, as many destinations remained closed to non-essential travel.
“The economic contribution of tourism in 2021 (measured in direct gross domestic product from tourism) is estimated at $1.9 trillion, up from $1.6 trillion in 2020, but still well below the pre-pandemic value of $3.5 trillion,” is described elsewhere in the report.
While international tourism export earnings “could exceed $700 billion in 2021, a small improvement over 2020 due to higher travel spending, but less than half of the $1.7 trillion recorded in 2019”.
Average receipts per arrival are estimated to reach $1,500 in 2021, up from $1,300 in 2020, as a result of large cumulative savings and longer lengths of stay, as well as higher transportation and accommodation prices.
For this year 2022, the UNWTO Group of Experts, the majority of tourism professionals (61%), see better prospects.
While 58% expect a rebound, especially during the third quarter, 42% foresee a possible rebound only in 2023.
A majority of experts (64%) now expect international arrivals not to return to 2019 levels until 2024 or later, up from 45% in the September survey.
UNWTO scenarios indicate that international tourist arrivals could grow between 30% and 78% compared to 2021, percentages that are still 50% and 63% below pre-pandemic levels.
According to experts, domestic tourism and commuter travel, as well as outdoor activities, nature-based products and rural tourism are some of the main travel trends that will continue to shape tourism in 2022.
Source From: Ambito
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