“Global tourism recorded the worst results in its history in 2020, with international arrivals falling by 74%. Globally, destinations received 1 billion fewer international arrivals in 2020 compared to the previous year, following an unprecedented collapse in demand and widespread restrictions on travel. trips. By way of comparison, the global economic crisis of 2009 resulted in a drop of 4%”. Here is the report of the World Tourism Organization which takes stock of the year 2020.

And if we obviously expected figures in sharp decline, as in other sectors, the amount of losses makes you dizzy. “This shutdown of international travel represents a loss of export earnings estimated at 1.3 trillion dollars, more than eleven times the loss recorded during the global economic crisis of 2009. The crisis threatens from 100 to 120 million direct jobs in tourism, many in small and medium-sized enterprises, explains the OMT. Given the evolving nature of the pandemic, many countries are reintroducing tougher travel restrictions. At the same time, the gradual deployment of a vaccine against Covid-19 should help restore consumer confidence, help ease travel restrictions and gradually allow the travel situation to return to normal. during the year.”

And UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili has a glimpse of the future. “Much has been done to make safe international travel possible, but we recognize that the crisis is far from over. The harmonization, coordination and digitization of risk reduction measures related to Covid-19 at the travel level, in particular screening, tracing and vaccination certificates, are fundamental to promote safe travel and to prepare for the recovery of the tourism when conditions permit.”