COVID-19 has devastating impact on European Tourism
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The global tourism industry is one of the hardest-hit industries with regards to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to recent data, at the height of the lockdowns in Europe, France experienced a 99% decrease in reservations on popular accommodations sites; Airbnb, Expedia and Booking.com compared to 2019.
As countries shut their borders to protect their citizens front he pandemic global tourism virtually stopped. This was very apparent in Europe’s leading tourist destinations which were also one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic. In week 15(March) of this year, when the pandemic began to take hold of the globe, Spain experienced a 97% decrease in bookings compared to 2019 numbers on popular sites such as Airbnb, Expedia and Booking.com. France meanwhile experienced a 99% decrease in the same time period.
Even the traditionally high Summer period was not spared from the wrath of
the virus. While the numbers did bounce back from the early days of the
pandemic, numbers were still below 2019 levels as the world adjusted to a “new
normal.” During the height of the summer period for most European tourist
hotspots, Spain recorded only a 16% decrease in week 26 while France recorded
only a 13% decrease in week 27.
In the UK and Italy, where the situation had not improved to the same level
as France and Spain, the summer period fell well below 2019’s numbers. Even at
the Uk’s lowest percentage of decrease during their summer period, week 31
recorded a staggering 51% decrease compared to 2019 numbers. Italy recorded its
lowest percentage decrease in week 30 at 44%.
– eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News
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