When will the tourism industry return to normal?

In 2021, the global tourism industry is showing signs of gradual recovery, and many partners are looking forward to better understanding the convenience brought by independent travel. Because of the epidemic, everyone is still cautious and always laments that they don’t know what to do. Here is a specific strategy guide.

Boosted by the progress of vaccination and the policies of many countries, the global tourism industry has recently shown signs of recovery, but the recovery of the tourism industry in different regions and countries is still uneven. Industry insiders believe that tourism is crucial to global economic recovery, and all parties should strengthen international cooperation to promote more resilient and sustainable development of the tourism industry.

The latest report released by the World Tourism Organization Expert Committee shows that with the acceleration of vaccination and the restart of some key tourism markets, the confidence index in the recovery of the global tourism industry is rising. 60% of respondents believe that the global tourism industry will return to pre-epidemic levels and usher in growth in 2022. In January this year, the proportion was 50%.

Showing signs of improvement in the industry

Recently, tourism in some countries has begun to recover. Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khalid Al-Anani recently stated that Egypt’s tourism industry is gradually improving.

In April this year, Egypt received about 500,000 tourists from 20 countries and regions, and the number of tourists recovered to about 50% of the same period last year. To ensure the safety of tourists and employees, the Egyptian government has vaccinated more than 2 million employees in the tourism industry.

Data from the UAE tourism department shows that in the first quarter of this year, the average length of stay in the UAE hotel industry increased by 27.6% compared with the same period last year, with a year-on-year increase of 112% in March.

The tourism industry in some African countries is also accelerating its recovery. Officials from the Ugandan Ministry of Tourism said that tourist bookings in the first quarter of this year tripled compared with the same period last year, and travel agency bookings increased 11 times between August last year and March this year.

Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), said at the end of April that in recent months, island tourism, excursions and excursions in many countries have Tourism is showing initial signs of recovery. WTTC predicts that the global tourism industry's contribution to global GDP will increase by 48.5% this year.

At the same time, some online and offline international tourism exhibitions have also been held one after another. In mid-to-late May, the Madrid International Tourism Expo was held, with more than 5,000 exhibitors from 55 countries and regions, and more than 100,000 online and offline exhibitors; almost at the same time, the Arab Tourism Expo held in Dubai attracted visitors from Saudi Arabia, Italy There are about 1,300 exhibitors from more than 60 countries and regions including Germany, Malaysia, South Korea and the United States.

Convenience policies are continuously introduced.

According to surveys by world-renowned travel companies such as Show Eagle and EcoTravel, as global vaccination progress accelerates, people from all over the world have an increasing demand for summer travel, and more and more tourists are beginning to plan their own vacations. holiday travel. In order to welcome summer tourists, many countries and regions have launched targeted measures to boost tourism.

Recently, the International Air Transport Association has partnered with many countries to launch a "Digital Health Pass" system. Emirates and Qatar Airways have started using the "IATA Travel Pass" mobile app and launched a "Digital Health Passport" to improve travel convenience and flexibility. Some regions and countries, including the European Union, are also experimenting with similar digital travel passes.

Recently, representatives from many Latin American countries signed the "Punta Cana Declaration" and formulated the "Tourism Development Action Plan in the Post-Epidemic Era", emphasizing increasing assistance to tourism companies and employees. intensity.

Some countries have introduced relevant tourism facilitation policies. For example, Egypt has formulated a comprehensive action plan, including building new hotels, improving tourism infrastructure and tourist attractions, developing new tourist cities, and inviting travel writers and online bloggers to "check in" popular attractions; the Caribbean island nation of Barbados has launched a A new one-year visa that allows holders to work remotely on the island for one year without paying local income tax.

Investment in the tourism industry has also become active

This year 4 In September, Jamaica received $2 billion in foreign and local tourism investment, including the development of large hotels and resorts. In the next two years, more than 7,000 new hotel rooms will be added and more than 20,000 new jobs will be created.

WTO Secretary-General Polikashvili said that digitalization will play an important role in the recovery of the tourism industry. Countries should improve the capacity of tourism destination management agencies to use digital technologies and strengthen the connection between tourists, tourism practitioners and the digital environment.

From tourism promotion to talent training to industry exchanges, digital tools are increasingly used. The Jordan Tourism Board used social media channels to release promotional videos showcasing historical images, natural scenery and archaeological landscapes; Jamaica provided free online training and certification courses for tourism industry practitioners to help them improve their digital skills; at the Madrid International Tourism Fair, it hosted Fang enhances the live experience of online participation through online and mobile applications. The various tools provided by the organizers can promote communication among global participants and enhance information sharing.

Work together to promote sustainable development

Industry experts believe that currently , the global tourism industry as a whole is showing a slow recovery trend, but problems such as uneven vaccine distribution, different medical and health levels, and different economic debt burdens may hinder the recovery process of the tourism industry in some countries and regions, and the recovery of the global tourism industry will be uneven.

At the recent Global Tourism Recovery Conference held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, all parties agreed that coordination and cooperation between the public and private sectors and countries should be strongly supported to promote a sustainable tourism industry. Continue to develop and allow more regions and people to enjoy tourism dividends.

At the meeting, the World Tourism Organization launched the "Most Beautiful Tourism Villages" initiative, which will identify a number of regions around the world that use innovative methods to promote the transformation of rural tourism.

The World Tourism Organization also announced the opening of a regional office in Riyadh to coordinate tourism policies and measures in the Middle East, collect data, share information, promote tourism investment, establish a Middle East Tourism Academy, and train and certify professionals.

Saudi Tourism Minister Al-Hadib announced at the meeting that he would cooperate with the World Bank to invest US$100 million to establish an international comprehensive tourism fund and commit to the sustainable development of international tourism.

The International Monetary Fund recommends that governments should pay more attention to pertinence, policy space and sustainability when introducing policies, and promote the diversified development of the tourism industry by shifting to sustainable tourism models and investing in new technologies. .

Countries must strengthen international cooperation, establish an information sharing platform, and provide tourists with effective epidemic prevention and travel guides.

Polikashvili said: "Tourism represents the hope of economic recovery. The safe restart of the tourism industry cannot be separated from the leadership of all countries and the strengthening of cooperation and innovation."