UNWTO confirms 2021 second worst history year: there were 415 million travellers, 72% less than 2019 - If 2020 was the worst year in the history of tourism, 2021 has not been left behind. Although there was great hope that everything was going to get better, last year saw a partial recovery in the sector.
This has been shown by official figures from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) which indicate that, although the world tourism grew by 4% year-to 2020 (with 415 million tourists in front of 400 million the previous year), the arrival of international tourists is still a 72% below the levels prepandemic 2019 (73% in 2020), when it reached 1,500 million passengers.
Despite this, UNWTO points out, during the second half of 2021 international tourism increased slightly and the fall was 62% compared to 2019.
The UNWTO estimates that the economic contribution of tourism in 2021, measured in terms of gross domestic product amounted to $ 1.9 trillion (1.6 trillion euros): more than 1.6 billion (1.4 billion euros) in 2020, but still far short of the $ 3.5 trillion (3.1 billion euros) in 2019.
This slow recovery does not improve prospects for the year that has just begun. Moreover, experts consulted by the UNWTO estimate that to return to the levels of passenger arrivals of 2019 will have to wait, at least, until 2024.
UNWTO confirms 2021 second worst history year
A long way to go but one that, little by little, has allowed the contained demand to be satisfied thanks to vaccination and the relaxation of restrictions on mobility.
However, the inequalities observed at the global level, coupled with new threats such as rising oil prices, rising inflation or the continued disruption of supply chains, may delay the recovery, according to UNWTO.
According to data from the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer collected by Hosteltur, there are great differences between the different regions of the world in terms of recovery.
Data shows UNWTO confirms 2021 second worst history year
The best placed are Europe and the Americas, which although still 63% below 2019, were able to record solid data in 2021 compared to 2020 (with increases of 19% and 17%, respectively).
Within these regions, the Mediterranean (57% increase) and Central America (54%) showed the best figures. The Caribbean leads with 63% above 2020, though still 37% below 2019.
By contrast, Africa remains 74% below prepandemic levels, although it has achieved a 12% increase in arrivals over 2020.
Contrasts between UNWTO confirms 2021 second worst history year data
Worse off are Asia and the Pacific, where due to strict entry restrictions, tourist arrivals fell 65% compared to 2020 and 94% compared to 2019.
On the other hand, arrivals to the Middle East decreased by 24% compared to 2020 and 79% compared to 2019.
