Tourism recovery in 2022
In many countries millions of jobs and businesses are dependent on a tourism sector. According to the World Tourism Organization, international tourism saw a 182% year-on-year increase in January – March 2022.
The UNWTO data shows that during the 1. quarter of 2022 Europe welcomed four times as many international arrivals (+280%) as in Q1 of 2021.
In the Americas arrivals more than doubled (+117%) in the same three months. However, arrivals in Europe and the Americas were still 43% and 46% below 2019 levels respectively.
The Middle East (+132%) and Africa (+96%) also saw strong growth in Q 2022 compared to 2021, but arrivals remained 59% and 61% below 2019 levels respectively.
Asia and Pacific recorded a 64% increase over 2021 but levels were 93% below 2019 numbers as several destinations remained closed to non-essential travel.
Although international tourism remains 61% below 2019 levels, the gradual recovery is expected to continue throughout 2022, as more destinations ease or lift travel restrictions. As of 2 June 2022, 45 destination (31 in Europe) had no COVID-19 related restrictions in place. In Asia, an increasing number of destinations have started to ease those restrictions.
Source: UNWTO
