UNWTO: 3% of world destinations relax travel restrictions after COVID-19

CAIRO – 2 June 2020: A new research issued by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) indicates that the world is slowly opening up again, and carefully relaxing the travel restrictions that were imposed in response to COVID-19.

The research said that 3 percent of all world destinations have now taken steps to ease travel restrictions.

“Relaxing travel restrictions in a timely and responsible manner will help ensure many social and economic benefits of tourism in a sustainable way. This will contribute to the livelihoods of millions of people around the world,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

Pololikashvili stressed that the tourism sector is the engine of sustainable development and a pillar of economies, and therefore the UNWTO ensures the need for vigilance, responsibility and international cooperation as the world opens up slowly again.

The UNWTO issued earlier global guidelines for reopening the tourism sector, which outline steps to be taken by the government and the private sector to accelerate recovery in the coming months.

The report further explained that seven destinations have eased restrictions on international tourism, while 100 percent still have coronavirus-related restrictions.

It also clarified that 37 percent of the destinations have travel restrictions imposed during 10 weeks, while 24 percent have the duration longer reaching 14 weeks or more.