World tourism barely improves in 2021 compared to 2020
(VOVWORLD) - The world tourism industry barely improved last year compared to 2020, with all indicators staying way below pre-pandemic levels, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said on Tuesday.
 Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) |
Rising vaccination rates and the easing of travel restrictions did allow a small rebound in the second half of 2021, though the spread of the Omicron variant in December triggered another dip in both travel bookings and industry optimism.
The pace of recovery remains slow and uneven across regions, due to varying travel restrictions, vaccination rates, and traveller confidence, the report said.
Southern Europe, Central America, and the Caribbean saw the biggest increases in tourist arrivals compared with 2020, but those were still below the 2019 numbers. Global tourism's gross revenues rose 19% in 2021 to 1.9 trillion USD, with tourists spending more and staying longer than in 2020. But the tourism industry's revenue still barely surpassed half its 2019 level.