(TAN): The coronavirus pandemic has prompted all destinations across the globe to implement restrictions on travel, a new research from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has revealed.
While discussions on probable initial measures for lifting restrictions are going on, 72% or 156 of the total 217 destinations worldwide have put a complete stop on international tourism by closing their borders, data collected as of April 27 showed.
In a quarter of these destinations, restrictions have been followed for a minimum of three months, and in 40% of them restrictions were imposed no less than two months ago.
Of all the regions, 83% of destinations in Europe have introduced total closure of borders for international tourism, followed by the Americas at 80%. In Asia and the Pacific, 70% of the destinations are closed while in the Middle East and Africa, it is 62% and 57%, respectively.
Further still, the study said no destination has so far lifted or relaxed the restrictions.
An earlier report, based on research carried out as of April 6, had said 96% of all worldwide destinations had introduced travel restrictions in response to the pandemic – nearly 90 destinations had completely or partially closed their borders to tourists, while a another 44 were closed to certain tourists depending on country of origin.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said the tourism industry, which particularly generates millions of livelihoods in the developing nations, has endured one of the severest blows from the COVID-19 related lockdown.
“Tourism has been the hardest hit of all the major sectors as countries lockdown and people stay at home. UNWTO calls on governments to work together to coordinate the easing and lifting of restrictions in a timely and responsible manner, when it is deemed safe to do so,” he said.
“Tourism is a lifeline to millions, especially in the developing world. Opening the world up to tourism again will save jobs, protect livelihoods and enable our sector to resume its vital role in driving sustainable development,” Pololikashvili added.
UNWTO is coordinating with international organisations, national governments and the private sector to facilitate the industry’s recovery – Secretary-General Pololikashvili recently discussed with the ministers of the G20 nations and of the European Union Commission about the necessity for prioritising the sector post-lockdown.
As a result of the pandemic-induced lockdown that slowed travel demand across the world, the global travel industry could face a colossal blow, with up to 1.1 billion fewer people going on foreign trips this year, the UNWTO had recently said.
International tourist arrivals could plunge between 60% and 80% in 2020 compared to 2019 numbers, translating to a loss of up to USD 1.2 trillion in export revenues earned from tourism, a report from the organisation predicted. Globally, COVID-19 could put up to 120 million jobs that are directly related to tourism at risk – in what is “by far the worst crisis that international tourism has faced since records began”.
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