Global tourism faced its worst year on record in 2020, with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) announcing a 74% drop in international arrivals following travel restrictions and falling demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Destinations worldwide saw a 1 billion decrease in international visitors last year, compared to a decline of only 4% during the 2009 global economic crisis.
According to UNWTO data, estimated export revenue losses reached $1.3 trillion, 11 times higher than the losses in 2009.
The crisis put between 100 and 120 million direct tourism jobs at risk, most of them in SMEs.
The outlook for 2021 is mixed. Nearly half of the experts who responded to the UNWTO survey (45%) expect better prospects in 2021 compared to 2020, 25% expect similar performance, while 30% expect results to worsen this year. Most experts do not expect a return to pre-pandemic levels before 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the percentage drop in international tourism in 2020?International arrivals dropped by 74% in 2020 compared to the previous year, marking the worst year on record for the global tourism industry.
How much revenue was lost in the global tourism sector?The sector lost approximately $1.3 trillion in export revenues, which is 11 times more than the losses recorded during the 2009 global economic crisis.
When is global tourism expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels?Most experts surveyed by the UNWTO do not anticipate a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels before 2023, with mixed outlooks for the immediate future.