AusLeisure

One in three destinations worldwide are now completely closed to international tourism according to a newly released report from the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

While previous editions of the UNWTO Travel Restrictions Report (which provides a comprehensive overview of the regulations in place in 217 destinations worldwide) had shown a movement towards easing or lifting restrictions on travel, the latest report shows that the persistent seriousness of the epidemiological situation has caused governments to adopt a more cautious approach.

With the emergence of new variants of the COVID-19 virus having prompted many governments to reverse efforts to ease restrictions on travel, with total closures to tourists most prevalent in Asia and the Pacific and Europe, as of the beginning of February, 32% of all destinations worldwide (69 in total) are completely closed for international tourism. Of these, around just over half (38 destinations) have been closed for at least 40 weeks. At the same time, 34% of worldwide destinations are now partially closed to international tourists.

Commenting on the findings, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Polilikashvili stated “travel restrictions have been widely used to restrict the spread of the virus.

“Now, as we work to restart tourism, we must recognise that restrictions are just one part of the solution. Their use must be based on the latest data and analysis and consistently reviewed so as to allow for the safe and responsible restart of a sector upon which many millions of businesses and jobs depend.”

The ninth edition of the UNWTO Travel Restrictions Report shows that regional differences with regards to travel restrictions remain. Of the 69 destinations where borders are completely closed to tourists, 30 are in Asia and the Pacific, 15 are in Europe, 11 are in Africa, 10 are in the Americas and three are in the Middle East.

At the same time, the UNWTO research also indicates a trend towards adopting a more nuanced, evidence and risk-based approach to implementing travel restrictions. Growing numbers of destinations worldwide now require international tourists to present a negative PCR or antigen test upon arrival and also provide contact details for tracing purposes. Indeed, 32% of all worldwide destinations now have the presentation of such tests as their main requirement for international arrivals often combined with quarantine, while the same amount have made tests a secondary or tertiary measure.

As UNWTO leads the restart of tourism, the Travel Restrictions Report also notes how different governments are issuing advice to their own citizens. Analysis of the top ten tourism source markets currently advising against non-essential travel abroad found they generated 44% of all international arrivals in 2018.

UNWTO notes that advice issued by governments will play a crucial role in the restart and recovery of tourism in the weeks and months ahead.

Related Articles

12th March 2021 - Vaccinations will determine ‘return to normal’ after COVID

3rd March 2021 - Thailand’s Tourism Sector petitions to reopen the country by 1st July 2021

26th February 2021 - Time Out’s inaugural global travel survey reveals a ‘Fusion Trip’ trend

18th February 2021 - Hong Kong Disneyland park to reopen with enhanced hygiene measures

16th February 2021 - Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island will welcome guests from 18th February

8th February 2021 - Global warming and sea level rise place tourist destinations at risk

6th February 2021 - WTTC says governments should abandon notion of ‘high-risk countries’ and instead focus on ‘high-risk travellers’

27th January 2021 - Researchers suggest global event industry can benefit from COVID rapid lateral flow tests

20th January 2021 - WTTC predicts over 100 million global tourism jobs could be recovered during 2021

12th January 2021 - Thailand’s tourism sector continues to reopen safely and slowly

11th January 2021 - Rescheduled Dubai Expo anticipates 25 million visits over its six-month event

29th December 2020 - Preparing for a tourism revival in 2021

24th December 2020 - UNWTO points to tourism ‘looking forward with determination’

8th December 2020 - IAAPI urges India’s state governments to reopen amusement parks and release industry stimulus packages

26th November 2020 - WTTC hosts inaugural virtual AGM highlighting importance of international collaboration for COVID recovery

22nd November 2020 - 2020 International Mountain Tourism Alliance focuses on recovery of tourism post COVID-19

8th November 2020 - Recovery of major Asia-Pacific tourist destinations to pre-COVID-19 levels may take time

13th May 2020 - UNWTO says international tourism faces worst crisis since records began

21st November 2018 - New UNWTO Report helps cities manage impacts of ‘overtourism’

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.