UNWTO: Tourism recovers to 65% of pre-pandemic levels
The international tourism industry is on track to reach 65% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2022, with Europe leading the way and China remains closed.UNWTO: Tourism recovers to 65% of pre-pandemic levels.
The number of tourists who travelled internationally between January and September was estimated at 700 million, more than double (+133%) recorded in 2021. According to the World Tourism Organization, UNWTO, this represents 63% of 2019 levels and brings the industry to 65% of its pre-pandemic levels. In addition to strong demand, improved travel confidence and the lifting of restrictions in many destinations boosted the results.
According to the UNWTO’s latest Global Tourism Barometer, arrivals were 64% below 2019 levels in January 2022 and had reached -27 % by September, showing the sector’s speedy recovery from the worst crisis in history. Nearly half of the nine-month international arrivals were recorded within the third quarter of 2022 alone.
Europe continues to lead the global recovery.
In January-September 2022, Europe welcomed 477 million international visitors (68% of the global total), reaching 81% of pre-pandemic levels. With strong intra-regional demand and US travel, this was more than double that of 2021 (+126%). Arrivals in Europe reached almost 90% of 2019 levels in the third quarter.
From January to September 2022, international arrivals in the Middle East more than tripled (+225%), reaching 77% of pre-pandemic levels, while Africa grew 166% and the Americas by 106%, increasing by 63% and 66%, respectively. As a result of the opening of many destinations, including Japan, in September, arrivals in Asia Pacific grew more than tripled in the first nine months of 2022 (+230%). Asia Pacific arrivals, however, remained 83% below 2019. The region’s key source market, China, remains closed.
Pre-pandemic arrivals reached 80% to 90% in several subregions between January 2022 and September 2022. Almost 90% of Western Europe (88%) and 85% of Southern Mediterranean Europe (86%) have recovered their levels to those of 2019. Northern Europe (81%), the Caribbean (82%), and Central America (82%) also achieved strong results. There were arrivals above pre-pandemic levels in Albania, Ethiopia, Honduras, Andorra, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, El Salvador, and Iceland in the nine months to September.
Air travel and hotel accommodations are in high demand
The UNWTO Tourism Recovery Tracker also indicates a strong recovery in tourism based on air capacity and hotel counts.
According to available seat kilometres (ASK), seat capacity on international routes reached 62% of 2019 levels between January and August. Europe (78%) and the Americas (76%) performed best. In the Middle East (99%), domestic capacity reached pre-pandemic levels (IATA), with global capacity at 86% as of 2019.
According to STR, global hotel occupancy rates rose to 66% in September 2022 from 43% in January. Following July and August occupancy rates of 74%, Europe led the way in September 2022, with occupancy rates at 77%.
Following July and August occupancy rates of 74%, Europe led the way in September 2022, with occupancy rates at 77%. In September, occupancy rates were above 60% in the Americas (66%), Middle East (63%) and Africa (61%). In September 2022, Southern Mediterranean Europe (79%), Western Europe (75%), and Oceania (70%) had the highest occupancy rates.
Prospects for the future are moderately optimistic
The economy will likely stall in the fourth quarter and into 2023 due to persistently high inflation and rising energy prices.
In addition, for the last four months of 2022, the UNWTO Tourism Expert Group showed a downgraded confidence level. Nevertheless, while the tourism industry faces challenges that suggest a softening recovery, tourism export earnings may reach US$1.2-1.3 trillion by 2022, up 60-70% from 2021 or 70-80% from 2019.
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Photo by Anna Dziubinska on Unsplash
