Global tourism set to lose $ 2 trillion in 2021

The global tourism sector is expected to lose another 2 trillion dollars this year under the effect of restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, announced on Monday the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which judges the resumption of activity "

”and“

”.

This estimate, similar to the losses experienced in 2020, comes as new restrictions were taken, especially in Europe, to deal with a new wave of the epidemic and the Omicron variant, first detected in South Africa. South, is spreading around the world.

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These latest developments show that "

" and that the tourism sector is not immune to hazards likely to cause "

" to the economy, the secretary general of OMT Zurab Pololikashvili.

According to the UN agency, which will hold its General Assembly in Madrid from Tuesday until December 3, international tourist arrivals should thus remain this year "

" than those of the pre-pandemic. .

The tourism sector, one of the most affected by the consequences of Covid-19, is expected to suffer further pharaonic losses, estimated at 2,000 billion dollars (or 1,780 billion euros), a level identical to that of 2020.

"

", however nuance Zurab Pololikashvili, saying that he "

".

"Uneven rhythm"

According to the barometer published by the UN agency, international tourist arrivals have "

", suggesting an improvement after a sluggish start to the year, thanks to "

". Despite everything, "

" insists in a press release, the UNWTO, which attributes this heterogeneous situation to "

".

During the third quarter, some Caribbean islands as well as several destinations in southern Europe and the Mediterranean recorded "

" than 2019 levels, underlines the organization based in Madrid.

Other countries, on the other hand, have received virtually no tourists, particularly in Asia and the Pacific region, where many states still currently ban "

" travel.

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According to the UNWTO, 46 countries remain at this stage completely closed to tourists, or one in five destinations, and 55 are partially so. Conversely, four countries have lifted all restrictions: Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. This situation creates "

" and weighs on the resumption of activity, judges the UN agency, which calls on countries to "

" their protocols by taking advantage of progress related to "

" and new "

".

Due to the uncertainties hanging over the evolution of the epidemic, the UNWTO does not at this stage give an estimate of the number of tourists who could go abroad in 2022. But it warns that the recovery will be "

”and“

”. "

" and "

", including the Omicron variant, could slow down this "

", underlines the organization, which also fears the effects "

On travel.

Faced with these obstacles, only a "

" from the countries will "

", concludes the UNWTO, which has planned to debate these issues during its General Assembly in the Spanish capital.

This meeting, which will be attended by representatives of the 159 member states, was originally scheduled to take place in Marrakech, Morocco.

But this country has given up on hosting the event due to the resurgence of Covid-19 cases in many countries.