New Report on Travel Restrictions

(Find in the link below  the latest report on travel restrictions from UNWTO, just released, and below a short summary of it)

The report presents the analysis of travel restrictions as of 1 September 2020 and places the emphasis on analysing common factors of destinations which have started easing restrictions and of destinations which borders remain closed, with a view to better understand the underlying factors and supporting decision making in this regard.

The methodology has been expanded and now includes datasets on health and hygiene infrastructure available at destinations as well as on COVID-19 cases notification rate, in addition to existing datasets from previous editions on the economic importance of tourism, the dependence of destinations on mode of transport and the dependence of destinations on international source markets.

As of 1 September 2020, a total of 115 destinations (53% of all destinations worldwide) have started easing travel restrictions confirming an upward trend to facilitate the restart of international tourism. This is an increase of 28 destinations compared to 19 July 2020.

Out of the 115 destinations which have now started easing travel restrictions, there are 2 destinations which have lifted all COVID-19 related travel restrictions, while the remaining 113 destinations continue to have certain restrictive measures in place:

• Destinations which have started easing travel restrictions are often characterized by a high or very high level of health and hygiene infrastructure and have comparatively low COVID-19 infection rates.
• Destinations from advanced economies have in 79% of the cases already started easing restrictions while only 47% of the destinations from emerging economies have done so.
• 64% of the destinations which have started easing have a high or medium dependence on air as a mode of transport for international tourism arrivals.

There are still 93 destinations (43% of all destinations worldwide) which borders are completely closed.

A total of 27 destinations (12 % of all destinations worldwide) have had their borders completely closed for at least 30 weeks:

• 59% of these destinations highly depend on aviation, i.e. that at least 70% of their international tourists arrive by air, causing significant connectivity impacts for their citizens and economies.
• More than half of these destinations are classified as the World’s Most Vulnerable Countries, among them 10 SIDS, 1 LDC and 3 LLDCS.

As health concerns and uncertainties prevail, the reintroduction of restrictions is possible. In fact, since reporting last on 19 July 2020, two destinations have reintroduced the complete closure of borders, some scheduled border openings have been cancelled or postponed and additional 5 destinations have reintroduced some restrictions directed at passengers coming from specific countries with high infection rates.

In addition, tourists are affected increasingly by travel advisories issued by their own governments as well as by measures they apply such as quarantine or testing upon return to the home country.

Click HERE, to view the latest report on travel restrictions from UNWTO

(UNWTO: Sustainable Development of Tourism Department –  Seventh Report as of 10 September 2020)