UNWTO: Cross-border tourism gradually recovering
The United Nations World Tourism Organization says international tourism is slowly recovering but the global travel industry has already lost about $195 billion in the first four months of the year.
That represents a decline of about 180 million tourist arrivals compared to a year ago.
In April alone the number of tourist arrivals plunged 97%.
Europe is leading the tourism recovery, the UNTWO says.
It says 48 countries and regions have started to relax restrictions on foreign visitors, and 37 of them are in Europe.
"We welcome the steps undertaken by the EU and individual countries, including France and Spain, to support tourism economically," it said.
According to the latest issue of the Covid-19 Related Travel Restrictions: A Global Review for Tourism report, that still leaves 141 destinations with borders firmly closed.
"The restart of tourism is of vital importance — for livelihoods, for businesses and for national economies," said UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili.
While the gradual tourism recovery is welcomed, ‘this crisis is not over.’
The organization will continue working with governments to ‘mitigate the impact of the pandemic and drive a responsible and sustainable recovery.’
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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