The latest edition of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, UNWTO, Travel Restrictions Report has revealed that one in three destinations worldwide are now completely closed to international tourism.
This is occasioned by the emergence of new variants of the COVID-19 virus which has 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.
The ninth edition of the UNWTO Travel Restrictions Report showed 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 has made tests a secondary or tertiary measure.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Polilikashvili posited that there is a need to recognise that restrictions are just one part of the solution and must be reviewed constantly to allow for a safe and responsible restart of tourism.
“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” he said.
Similarly, the Travel Restrictions Report 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 also notes that advice issued by governments will play a crucial role in the restart and recovery of tourism in the weeks and months ahead.
