(TAN): The fall in international tourist numbers was as high as 98% in May, as compared to the same month in 2019, UNWTO said, adding that the damage up to May this year was already three times that of the 2009 Global Economic Crisis.
As the situation continues to evolve, the UN agency has provided the first comprehensive insight into the impact of the pandemic, both in tourist numbers and lost revenues, ahead of the upcoming release of up-to-date information on travel restrictions worldwide.
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The latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer shows that the near-complete lockdown imposed in response to the pandemic led to a 98% fall in international tourist numbers in May when compared to 2019. The barometer also shows a 56% YoY drop in tourist arrivals between January and May. This translates into a fall of 300 million tourists and USD320 billion lost in international tourism receipts – more than three times the loss during the global economic crisis of 2009.
According to UNWTO, all governments have a dual responsibility: to prioritize public health while also protecting jobs and businesses.
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Millions of livelihoods at risk
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “This latest data makes clear the importance of restarting tourism as soon as it is safe to do so. The dramatic fall in international tourism places many millions of livelihoods at risk, including in developing countries. Governments in every world region have a dual responsibility: to prioritize public health while also protecting jobs and businesses.”
Confidence low
While tourism is slowly returning in some destinations, the UNWTO Confidence Index has dropped to record lows, both for the evaluation of the period January-April 2020, and the prospects for May-August. Most members of the UNWTO Panel of Tourism Experts expect international tourism to recover by the second half of 2021, followed by those who expect a rebound in the first part of next year.
The group of global experts points to a series of downside risks such as travel restrictions and border shutdowns still in place in most destinations, major outbound markets such as the US and China being at standstill, safety concerns associated with travel, the resurgence of the virus and risks of new lockdowns or curfews.
Additionally, concerns over a lack of reliable information and a deteriorating economic environment are indicated as factors weighing on consumer confidence.
