International tourist arrivals tripled in the first quarter of this year compared to 2021, thanks to an acceleration of tourism in Europe due to the easing of health restrictions, according to a barometer from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) released this Monday.
In the first three months of 2022, 117 million international tourist arrivals were registered in the world, an increase of 182% compared to the figure for the same period of the previous year (41 million), the UNWTO said in a statement.
The figure in any case is still 61% lower than that of 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic. But it shows that tourism “gains momentum after the reduction of health restrictions”, detailed this Madrid-based UN agency.
About two-thirds of the 76 million additional arrivals in the first quarter occurred in March, “which shows that the recovery is gaining strength,” UNWTO said.
According to the organization, the recovery in activity is being particularly evident in Europe, which welcomed four times more international tourists than in the first quarter of 2021 (+280%). There were also rises in the American continent (+117%) and in the Middle East (+132%).
The gradual recovery is expected to continue throughout 2022, as more destinations ease or lift travel restrictions”, estimated the UNWTO, which found “a significant increase in flight reservations”.
The UNWTO was in any case cautious with its perspectives for the coming months, due to the risks linked to “world economic conditions” and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“The Russian offensive on Ukraine appears to have had a limited direct impact so far” on tourism, but “the conflict is having significant global economic repercussions” such as rising prices, “which translates into increased transportation and accommodation costs”, which could hamper the recovery, the UNWTO added.
