Blanket travel restrictions 'do more harm than good' – UNWTO
Will PayneThe World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has said blanket restrictions on international travel "do more harm than good" by "cutting the lifeline" of tourism.
The Committee also noted that measures applied to international travellers such as testing, isolation, quarantine and vaccinations should be based on “risk assessments" to avoid "placing the financial burden" on international travellers.
UNWTO secretary general Zurab Pololikashvili said blanket travel restrictions "are simply counterproductive" when it comes to stopping the spread of new virus variants.
"In fact, by cutting the lifeline of tourism, these restrictions do more harm than good, especially in destinations reliant on international tourists for jobs, economic wellbeing and sustainable change," he added.
The call coincides with the release of the UNWTO’s latest world tourism barometer; the quarterly report analysis of global tourism data and trends worldwide.
It found International tourism experienced a 4% increase in 2021, with 15 million more international tourist arrivals compared to 2020. However, international arrivals were still 72% below 2019.
The uplift in demand was reportedly driven by increased traveller confidence amid "rapid progress" on vaccinations and the easing of entry restrictions in many destinations.
International tourism rebounded moderately during the second half of 2021, with international arrivals down 62% in both the third and fourth quarters compared to pre-pandemic levels.
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