MADRID: The arrival of tourism throughout the world is not expected to return to their pre-pandemic level up to the early 2024, the world tourism organization said Tuesday.
The omicron variant is very contagious, although light, will “interfere with recovery” at the beginning of 2022 after last year seeing a growth of four percent more than 2020, according to the world tourist barometer based in Madrid.
Tourism revenue in 2020 was 72 percent in the previous year which was closed with the emergence of a coronavirus pandemic.
“The recovery rate remains slow and uneven in all regions of the world due to various levels of limiting mobility, the level of vaccination and confidence,” Refto said in a press release.
In Europe and America, the arrival of thousands of foreign visitors has surged by 19 percent and 17 percent, last year more than 2020.
But in the Middle East it fell 24 percent in 2021, while in their Asia-Pacific region 65 percent.
Under 2020 levels, and 94 percent dropped at the pre-pandemic level.
The statement said tourism professionals, “See better prospects” for this year after turbulence in the early months due to omicron waves.
The agency predicts a 30 to 78 percent increase on international arrival this year more than 2021, while remaining far below the 2019 level.
Most experts say they do not look back to the pre-pandemic level to at least 2024, he said.
Many countries are very dependent on tourism and vigorously waiting back to normal.
“The economic contribution of tourism in 2021 (measured in tourism of gross domestic product) is estimated at $ 1.9 trillion (1.68 trillion euro), above $ 1.6 trillion by 2020, but still far below the pre-pandemic value of $ 3.5 trillion, “statement was recorded.