Tourism

Global Tourism’s Slow Recovery From the Pandemic

Introduction

According to the UN World Tourism Organization’s latest report, there was a combined loss of 2.6 billion international tourist arrivals from 2019 through 2022. This significant decline can be attributed to global lockdowns, travel restrictions, and a decrease in visitor demand.

Impact on International Tourist Arrivals

In 2020, the first year of the pandemic, there were only 407 million international tourist arrivals, marking a 72 percent decline from the previous year. However, two years later, the number had increased to 963 million, which is only 34 percent below pre-pandemic levels. This increase can be attributed to strong pent-up demand and the easing of travel restrictions. The Middle East experienced the strongest rebound, with only a 10 percent decrease from 2019 levels, followed by Europe with a 20 percent decrease and the Americas with a 29 percent decrease.

Economic Impact

The pandemic resulted in a loss of $4.2 trillion in tourism direct GDP over the four-year period. This loss is equivalent to the value of Germany’s economy in 2021. The impact of this loss has been uneven, particularly affecting emerging economy destinations such as small island developing states where tourism is a major part of the balance of payments. Millions of jobs, small businesses, and livelihoods have been impacted, especially in these destinations. It is estimated that around 100 million direct tourism jobs were at risk or lost during the pandemic, with a high share of these jobs held by women and young people.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The loss of tourism jobs and the impact on small businesses highlights the need for sustainable economic growth and job creation.
• Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities – The uneven impact of the pandemic on different regions and economies emphasizes the importance of reducing inequalities in access to tourism opportunities.
• Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The pandemic has highlighted the need for responsible and sustainable tourism practices to ensure the long-term viability of the industry.
• Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Collaboration between governments, organizations, and stakeholders is crucial to support the recovery and resilience of the tourism sector.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on global tourism, resulting in a sharp decline in international tourist arrivals and a loss of tourism GDP. The recovery of the sector has been slow but promising, driven by pent-up demand and the easing of travel restrictions. However, it is essential to prioritize sustainable development goals to ensure a resilient and inclusive tourism industry in the future.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international tourism, which has significant implications for economic growth (SDG 8), inequalities (SDG 10), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), and partnerships for achieving the SDGs (SDG 17).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
2. SDG 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage, and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality.
3. SDG 12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.
4. SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
5. SDG 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

Based on the issues discussed in the article, the identified targets are related to promoting sustainable tourism and job creation (SDG 8.9), reducing inequalities (SDG 10.4), raising awareness for sustainable development (SDG 12.8), integrating climate change measures (SDG 13.2), and fostering partnerships (SDG 17.17).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of international tourist arrivals
• Percentage change in international tourist arrivals compared to pre-pandemic levels
• Loss in tourism direct GDP
• Number of tourism jobs at risk or lost

The article mentions indicators such as the number of international tourist arrivals, the percentage change in arrivals compared to pre-pandemic levels, the loss in tourism direct GDP, and the number of tourism jobs at risk or lost. These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: statista.com

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