The IIF while writing in its most recent report has explained that the recovery will be slow as well as limited in terms of scope. It has also mentioned that tourists from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Russia, and the United States may get tempted by other Mediterranean countries with low-cost brands. Also, tourists may like to focus more on domestic travel or nature in countries where they live.
“Downside risks to a projected strong recovery in tourism in 2022 include virus mutations and slow vaccine rollout, except Morocco,” the IIF report noted, “Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, and Lebanon could face repeated outbreaks before vaccines become widely available, limiting the chance of herd immunity before the end of 2022.”
The report has also mentioned that on the other hand, speedier vaccine delivery and distribution could speed up the move to a post-pandemic world.
The IIF has highlighted that the viewpoint for tourism to the region still remains dreary, with the five tourism-dependent MENA economies to endure the negative impacts of the pandemic much longer than the six GCC countries.
The report also pinpointed the fact that, prior to the pandemic, tourism contributed more than 15% of GDP directly and indirectly and 35% of foreign exchange earnings in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. In 2020, tourist receipts on average dropped by 75%, compared to the previous year.
Partial information for the first quarter (Q1) of 2021 emphasizes the fact that the tourist arrival number to the MENA countries stood at just 25% of what they were in Q1 of 2020, according to the IIF report. Recent increases in COVID-19 cases in key source markets, including the EU, will delay the partial recovery to the second half (H2) of this year.
Tags: MENA tourism
