UNWTO data: international travel is recovering, albeit in a slow and uneven way

The emergence of Covid-19 variants and the continued imposition of restrictions are weighing on the resumption of international travel. The latest UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) data show that, in the first 5 months of the year, global destinations recorded 147 million fewer international arrivals than in the same period in 2020, or a percentage of 65 percent. If we compare with 2019, the pre-pandemic year, they become 460 million fewer (-85%).

Data points to a relatively subdued recovery in May, with arrivals down 82% compared to the same month in 2019, after falling by 86% in April. This slight upward trend emerged as some destinations began easing restrictions and consumer confidence rose slightly.

Focusing on Europe, UNWTO figures show that last year there was a 68 percent drop in international tourist arrivals. If we compare the first 5 months of 2021 with the same period of 2020, we see that the decrease was 63%, against a reduction of 85 percent if we compare the period January-May 2021 with that of 2019.

Rebuilding trust to restart tourism

“Accelerating the pace of vaccination worldwide, working on effective coordination and communication on ever changing travel restrictions while advancing digital tools to facilitate mobility will be critical to rebuild trust in travel and restart tourism”, says Zurab Pololikashvili, the UNWTO Secretary-General.

Europe, in the first 5 months of this year compared to the same period of 2019, recorded an 85 percent decline in international arrivals, second only to the Asia and Pacific region (-95%). In June 2021, the number of destinations with complete border closures fell to 63, from 69 in February, of which only 7 were in Europe, the area with the fewest travel restrictions currently in force.

Conflicting prospects for the remainder of 2021

International tourism is slowly increasing, although the recovery remains very fragile and uneven. Growing concerns about the Delta variant have led several countries to reintroduce restrictive measures. Furthermore, the lack of clear information on entry requirements could continue to weigh, as far as the Northern Hemisphere is concerned, on the resumption of international travel during the summer season.

Vaccination programs around the world, along with softer restrictions for vaccinated travelers and the use of digital tools such as the European Union digital certificate, are all contributing to the gradual normalization of travel.