The latest report of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) shows that the number of international tourists in the first five months of 2021 decreased by 85% compared to the same period of 2019.
Compared to 2020, the decrease in the number of tourists is 65%.
Between January and May 2021, destinations worldwide received 147 million fewer international tourists compared to the same period last year, and 460 million fewer than in 2019.
Asia-Pacific remains the most affected region in the first five months, with a 95% drop in the number of foreign visitors compared to 2019. Europe experienced the second largest drop with -85%. Europe was followed by the Middle East (-83%), Africa (-81%), and the Americas (-72%).
UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili said:
“Accelerating the pace of vaccination worldwide, working on effective coordination and communication on ever changing travel restrictions while advancing digital tools to facilitate mobility will be critical to rebuild trust in travel and restart tourism”
According to a recent search from UNWTO: In June, the number of destinations with complete closure of borders decreased to 63, from 69 in February. Of these, 33 were in Asia and the Pacific, while just seven in Europe, the region with the fewest restrictions on travel currently in place.
