• NEWS
    • PODCASTS
    • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • EVENTS
    • EVENT PHOTOS
    • EVENT VIDEOS
    • THIRSTY THURSDAYS
    • CONFERENCES
    • NETWORKING
    • TRAINING & WORKSHOPS
  • JOBS
    • FOR JOB SEEKER
    • FOR EMPLOYER
  • COMMUNITY
    • SEARCH PEOPLE
      • Create a profile now
    • SEARCH COMPANIES
      • Create a profile now
  • EVERYTHING TD
    • About TD
    • What is Native Content?
    • Advertise with TD
    • Connect with Tory (Director of Sales)
    • Connect with Anthony (Sales -AU/NZ/SP)
    • Connect with Paul (BDM-Global)
    • Connect with Crystal (BDM-Singapore)
    • Connect with Washira (BDM-Thailand)
  • SELF SERVICE
    • ONLINE SERVICES
    • POST A TRAVEL BLOG
    • UPLOAD YOUR EVENT

Travel Daily Travel Daily - Informing, connecting and developing the world’s travel industry professionals.

  • MARKETS
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • Indonesia
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Vietnam
      • Australia
    • Thailand
    • China
    • India
    • Middle East
    • UK & Europe
    • USA
  • SECTORS
    • Air
    • Appointments
    • Business Travel
    • Cruise
    • Hospitality
    • HR & Careers
    • Luxury Travel
    • MICE
    • Technology
    • Tourism
    • Travel Agents
  • FEATURES
    • Sponsored
    • Travel Guides
    • Interviews
    • Podcasts
    • Guest writers
    • Competitions
    • Incentives
    • Reviews
    • By the Way
    • PR Newswire
    • BusinessWire
    • Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
      • Hotel & Travel businesses for sale
  • TRAVEL GUIDES
    • Ponant Yacht Cruises and Expeditions
    • South Australia Tourism Guide
    • The Residence by Etihad Airways
    • Encore Tickets (Chinese Guide)
    • Affordable Luxury in Thailand by Centara Hotels
    • Rising Above the Oridinary by Conrad Bangkok
    • The Best of Thailand
  • FREE TRAINING COURSES
    • Traveluni Online Courses
Travel Daily
TourismGuest ColumnGlobal

UNWTO report reveals further reduction in travel restrictions

By Joe Cusmano On Dec 7, 2020
Guest Writer
Share

The number of destinations closed to international tourism has continued to fall.

According to the eighth edition of the UNWTO Travel Restrictions Report, 70% of all global destinations have eased restrictions on travel introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In comparison, just one in four destinations continue to keep their borders completely closed to international tourists.

Launched by the World Tourism Organisation at the start of the pandemic, the Travel Restrictions Report keeps track of measures being taken in 217 destinations worldwide, helping to support the mitigation and recovery efforts of the tourism sector.

For this latest edition, the methodology has been updated to offer insights into the tourism flows of destinations, as well as to explore the link between health and hygiene infrastructure, environmental performance, and any potential connection to travel restrictions.

The report shows that, as of November 1st, a total of 152 destinations have eased restrictions on international tourism, up from the 115 recorded on September 1st.

At the same time, 59 destinations have kept their borders closed to tourists, a decrease of 34 over the same two-month period.

UNWTO secretary-general, Zurab Pololikashvili, said: “The lifting of travel restrictions is essential to drive our wider recovery from the social and economic impacts of the pandemic.

“Governments have an important part to play in giving data-led and responsible travel advice and in working together to lift restrictions as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Looking further into current Covid-19-related travel restrictions, the report sheds new light on the factors connecting those destinations which have eased restrictions and those where borders remain closed.

The study found that destinations with higher scores in health and hygiene indicators as well as on the environmental performance index are among those which have eased restrictions faster.

Moreover, these destinations are increasingly applying differentiated, risk-based approaches to implementing travel restrictions.

In comparison, destinations choosing to keep their borders closed tend to be within emerging economies with relatively low scores in health and hygiene indicators and environmental performance index.

Surprisingly, most of these destinations are in Asia and the Pacific, with many belonging to the SIDS (small island developing states), LDCs (least developed countries) or LLDCs (landlocked developing countries). As we know Australia and New Zealand do not make part of this as the international borders continue to remain closed for the foreseeable future.

As in previous editions, the new UNWTO Travel Restrictions report also breaks the destination analysis down by regions.

Europe continues to lead the way in lifting or easing travel restrictions followed by the Americas, Africa, and then the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Asia and the Pacific continues to be the region with the fewest travel restrictions eased and more complete border closures in place for international tourism.

United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)Zurab Pololikashvili
Share
You might also like
Tourism

Morocco visit initiates preparations for UNWTO General Assembly

Tourism

2020 worst year for tourism, says UNWTO

Associations

Secretary-general Pololikashvili nominated to lead UNWTO for four more years

Tourism

UNWTO to host key week for global tourism

Prev Next

Comments are closed.

LATEST STORIES

  • Thailand may waive quarantine for COVID-19 vaccinated tourists

    MG Group announces direct connectivity integration with OYO Group

    Stakeholders push Malaysia reopening borders to vaccinate travellers

    Number of global new Covid-19 cases continues to fall - WHO reports

  • What’s in store if you travel to Israel now. Tracking bracelet instead of hotel quarantine

    Goa Tourism launches online course

    Gourmet rejoice! Dubai Food Festival to start on 25 March

    Qantas to roll out health passports this week

  • IATA travel pass in India soon?

    How this resort is promoting the art of reuniting in Bali

    Australians will need a visa waiver to travel to Europe from 2022

    Confidence in luxury cruising growing as bookings uptick

Vaccination Updates

Thailand may waive quarantine for COVID-19 vaccinated…

Bali’s reopening within reach as island ramps up vaccination…

Emirates operates first fully vaccinated flight

Should vaccinated people be allowed to travel freely?

Prev Next 1 of 26

Re-opening updates

Stakeholders push Malaysia reopening borders to vaccinate…

What’s in store if you travel to Israel now. Tracking…

Gourmet rejoice! Dubai Food Festival to start on 25 March

IATA travel pass in India soon?

Prev Next 1 of 7
STAY UPDATED WITH THE LATEST TRAVEL NEWS, JOBS & EVENTS!
Join over 180,000 travel agents, professionals and executives subscribed to our daily newsletter.
You can unsubscribe at any time

Popular Posts

Thailand may waive quarantine for COVID-19 vaccinated…

Revealed! The world’s Top 10 beaches for 2021

How tech can augment safety, staff efficiency and guest…

Qantas reveals shocking AUD 1 billion six-month loss

Prev Next 1 of 14
Search
Follow Us

Menu
  • News
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Community
  • Subscribe
About
  • About Travel Daily (TD)
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
© 2021 - Travel Daily. All Rights Reserved.
X
Travel Daily
GET THE LATEST TRAVEL INDUSTRY NEWS, JOBS AND EVENTS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX!
Join over 180,000 travel agents, professionals and executives subscribed to our daily newsletter.
You can unsubscribe at any time
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time
Close

Welcome, Login to your account.

Forget password?
No account? Sign Up
Sign in

Recover your password.

A password will be e-mailed to you.

LOG IN

Welcome back, Log in to your account.

Continue with Facebook
Continue with Google
Continue with Twitter
Continue with LinkedIn

OR
Log in using your email
Forgot password?
Not a member yet? SIGN UP FOR FREE
Sign in

Recover your password.

Sign in

SIGN UP FOR FREE

(New User)

Be part of our community of seasoned travel and hospitality industry professionals from all over the world.

Continue with Facebook
Continue with Google
Continue with Twitter
Continue with LinkedIn
I want to
Only letters and numbers are allowed
Please enter a valid email address
Must be between 6-8 characters
Must be the same with Password
Already have an account? LOG IN
  • LOGIN / SIGN UP
  • NEWS
    • MARKETS
      • Asia
        • Cambodia
        • Indonesia
        • Malaysia
        • Myanmar
        • Philippines
        • Laos
        • Singapore
        • Vietnam
        • Australia
      • Thailand
      • China
      • India
      • Middle East
      • UK & Europe
      • USA
    • SECTORS
      • Air
      • Appointments
      • Business Travel
      • Cruise
      • Hospitality
      • HR & Careers
      • Luxury Travel
      • MICE
      • Technology
      • Tourism
      • Travel Agents
    • FEATURES
      • Sponsored
      • Travel Guides
      • Interviews
      • Podcasts
      • Guest writers
      • Reviews
      • Competitions
      • By the Way
      • PR Newswire
      • BusinessWire
      • Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
        • Hotel & Travel businesses for sale
  • EVENTS
    • Webinars
    • Thirsty Thursdays
    • Photos
    • Videos
    • Conferences
    • Networking
    • Training & Workshops
  • JOBS
    • For Job Seeker
      • Create a profile now
    • For Employer
      • Create a profile now
  • COMMUNITY
    • Search community profiles
    • Search Companies
  • TRAVEL GUIDES
    • Ponant Yacht Cruises and Expeditions
    • South Australia Tourism Guide
    • The Residence by Etihad Airways
    • Encore Tickets (Chinese Guide)
    • Affordable Luxury in Thailand by Centara Hotels
    • Rising Above the Oridinary by Conrad Bangkok
    • The Best of Thailand
  • FREE TRAINING COURSES
    • Traveluni Online Courses