Madrid: According to the United Nations Tourism Board, the number of international tourists arriving in the first quarter tripled compared to the same period in 2021, and Europe led the rebound as COVID restrictions were relaxed. According to the Madrid-based United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in the first three months of 2022, the number of tourists arriving worldwide was 117 million, up from 41 million in the same period last year. It increased by 182%. ..
It remained 61% lower than in the first quarter of 2019, a year before the pandemic, but it turns out that tourism continues to recover “at a strong pace” as “restrictions have been relaxed and confidence has returned”. rice field. “Of the additional 76 million foreign arrivals in the first three months, about 47 million were recorded in March, indicating an accelerating recovery.”
This increase is particularly noticeable in Europe, welcoming nearly four-fold arrivals in 2021 and increasing by 280 percent. Strong growth was also seen in the Americas, with arrivals more than doubled (up 117%) and up 132% in the Middle East. “It is expected that the recovery will continue gradually throughout 2022 as more destinations relax or lift the travel ban and the stagnation in demand will be resolved,” said the agency, “a significant increase in flight bookings. I pointed out.
By June 2, 45 destinations (two-thirds of which were in Europe) had no COVID-related restrictions, and more and more destinations in Asia began to relax. However, UNWTO has maintained a cautious outlook for the next few months, given the “difficult economic environment” and the risks associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “So far, Russia’s attack on Ukraine seems to have had a limited direct impact on the overall outcome,” he said. However, it has “a major global economic impact” by exacerbating fuel and energy costs that “cause the tourism sector’s transportation and accommodation costs to rise,” which could weigh on the sector’s recovery. Warned that it was exerting. -AFP
