According to a British research firm, global international travel demand is expected to go down 57% this year, owing to tighter border controls and quarantine measures imposed for limiting the corona virus outbreak.
Demand for overseas tourism will not return to last year’s level until 2024, reflecting the economic impacts of the pandemic and persistent negative outlook toward international travel, and this includes impact on both leisure and business travel.
Many countries are just starting to reopen their borders. “However, there is immense difficulty in striking the correct balance between ensuring the virus remains under control while reviving tourism,” the research firm said.
Domestic travel is, however, expected to recover more quickly than international travel, returning to 2019’s level by 2022, according to the report.
In Japan, inbound visitors went down 99.9% from a year earlier for the fourth straight month in July, with entry of foreign nationals from more than 140 countries and regions remaining restricted.
Cross-border travel is likely to drop 56% in Europe in spite of recent moves for reopening borders and recommencing travel activity, the British research firm opined.
The report said that major city destinations are more affected than rural areas. All 10 cities with biggest percentage falls are expected to be in the United States, including New York, which is likely to see a 79% plunge.
