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Overview of the significant effects of COVID-19 on global tourism

Knowledge documents

21 July 2024

Overview of the significant effects of COVID-19 on global tourism

Adventure tourism

Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism

Cultural tourism

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The 2023 report provides comprehensive information about COVID-19 causing an unprecedented crisis in global tourism.

Publishing org

UNWTO

Topics
Geographical descriptors

Albania

Armenia

Austria

Belgium

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechia

Denmark

Estonia

EU-27

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Kosovo

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Moldova

Montenegro

Netherlands

North Macedonia

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Serbia

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Türkiye

Ukraine

Organisation Type

Academic/Research and VET Institutions

Company with 250 or more employees

Consumer / tourist organisation

Cultural and Heritage Organisations

Destination Management & Marketing Organisations

EU institutions

Financial Institutions and Investors

Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce

International Organisations

Local authorities

Media/Travel Journalist Organisations

National authorities

Networks and Federations / Confederations

NGOs / Non-profits

Regional authorities

SMEs (a company with less than 250 employees)

Trade Unions

  • Specific types of tourism

    • Adventure tourism

    • Coastal, maritime and inland water tourism

    • Cultural tourism

    • Ecotourism

    • Education tourism

    • Festival tourism

    • Gastronomy tourism

    • Health and medical tourism

    • MICE tourism

    • Mountain tourism

    • Religious tourism

    • Rural tourism

    • Sports tourism

    • Urban/city tourism

    • Wellness tourism

  • Transition Pathway Strategic Areas

    • Coordinated information on travelling

    • Improving statistics and indicators

    • Innovative tourism services

  • Business activities

    • Activities of amusement parks and theme parks

    • Activities of associations and other organisations supporting tourism

    • Air passenger transport

    • Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks

    • Events catering and other food services

    • Festivals, cultural and entertainment activities

    • Gardens and nature reserves activities

    • Holiday Housing / Apartments and other short stay accommodation

    • Hotel and similar accommodation

    • Mobile beverage services

    • Mobile food services

    • Museums

    • Operation of historical sites

    • Other

    • Other accommodation

    • Other amusement and recreation activities

    • Other food and beverage services

    • Other holiday reservation services

    • Other tourism transportation activities

    • Rail Passenger transport

    • Recreational and sport activities

    • Restaurants, cafes and bars (Food and Beverage serving activities)

    • Road passenger transport

    • Tour operator activities

    • Travel agency activities

    • Water (sea, coastal and inland) passenger transport

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In December 2023, the World Tourism Organization released a 32-page report focusing on the significant impact of COVID-19 on global tourism from 2020 to 2022. The pandemic caused the most severe crisis in recorded history for the tourism industry. International tourist arrivals plummeted from 1,465 million in 2019 to 407 million in 2020—a staggering 72% decline within a single year. This sharp decrease was primarily attributed to global lockdowns, travel restrictions, and reduced visitor demand. The report offers a comprehensive overview of how the pandemic affected the tourism sector, providing valuable statistical data and methodological insights for strategic planning.

#Adaptation strategies #Reports

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