International arrivals fall 72% in 10M 2020: UNWTO

Published 22 Dec,2020 via Daily News Egypt - International arrivals fell by 72% over the first 10 months of 2020, with restrictions on travel, low consumer confidence, and a global struggle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, all contributing to the worst year on record in the history of tourism.

According to the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourist destinations welcomed 900 million fewer international tourists between January and October when compared with the same period of 2019. This translates into a loss of $935bn in export revenues from international tourism, more than 10 times the loss in 2009 under the impact of the global economic crisis.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Since the start of this crisis, UNWTO has provided governments and businesses with trusted data showing the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global tourism. Even as the news of a vaccine boosts traveller confidence, there is still a long road to recovery. We thus need to step up our efforts to safely open borders while supporting tourism jobs and businesses. It is ever clearer that tourism is one of the most affected sectors by this unprecedented crisis.”