The United Nations (UN) believes that the vaccination plan was key to the recovery of European tourism.A report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) indicated that the opening of borders to tourism, together with the implementation of immunization, prompted the recovery of the sector in Europe. However, the figures are still lower than those recorded in the pre-pandemic period.
Following a weak first half of the year in 2021, international tourism rebounded during the northern hemisphere summer season between July and September, according to the document published on November 28. The figures boosted the results of the third quarter of the year, especially in Europe.
Through the report made by our media partner Aeroin, it is understood that the movement of international tourists grew by 58% worldwide between July and September, compared to the same period but last year. However, it remains at 64% of what was recorded on the same dates in 2019, before the impacts of Covid-19 on the aviation sector.
It was Europe that was the best performing region on the planet in relative terms, according to the UNWTU. Compared to the 2021 and 2019 summer seasons, the decline was 53%, 11 percentage points below the global average.
«In Europe, the European Union’s (EU) Covid-19 Digital Certificate helped free movement within the continent, releasing a large pent-up demand after many months of travel restrictions,» the report says.
Between January and September 2021, travel by European tourists was only 8% lower than the same period in 2020. According to the paper, demand growth had been driven by improved passenger confidence amid rapid progress on vaccination and the easing of entry restrictions to many destinations.
The figures, however, remain well below those of the pre-crisis period, as the first 9 months of 2021 saw a 69% drop in travel within Europe compared to 2019.
