Analysing restrictions up to September 1, the research carried out by the United Nations specialised agency for tourism found that a total of 115 destinations (53 pc of all destinations worldwide) have eased travel restrictions, an increase of 28 since July 19. Of these, two have lifted all restrictions, while the remaining 113 continue to have certain restrictive measures in place.
For the first time, this report included key data on the health and hygiene infrastructure in place at destinations, while also analysing rate of notifications of new Covid-19 cases. This allows UNWTO to determine the factors that are influencing destinations’ decisions to ease restrictions.
Destinations which have eased travel restrictions generally have high or very high levels of health and hygiene infrastructure. They also tend to have comparatively low Covid-19 infection rates. Within advanced economies, 79 pc of tourism destinations have already eased restrictions. In emerging economies, just 47 pc of destinations have done so. 64 pc of those destinations which have eased have a high or medium dependence on air as a mode of transport for international tourism arrivals.
At the same time, the report shows that many destinations around the world are extremely cautious about easing travel restrictions they introduced in response to the pandemic and some have passed severe measures in an attempt to keep their citizens safe. A total of 93 destinations (43 pc of all worldwide destinations) continue to have their borders completely closed to tourism, of which 27 have had their borders completely closed for at least 30 weeks.
More than half of all destinations with borders completely closed to tourism are classified as being among the world’s most vulnerable countries. They include ten SIDS (Small Island Developing States), one Least Developed Country (LDC) and three Land-Locked Developing Countries (LLDCs). More than half of destinations with full restrictions still in place are also highly dependent on aviation, with at least 70 pc of their tourist arrivals coming by air, causing significant connectivity impacts for their citizens and economies. UNWTO has also observed a rise in travel advisories being issued by governments for their own citizens, alongside more and varied restrictions and other measures directed at passengers arriving from specific countries or regions.
