World Tourism Inched Back In 2021, Still A Fraction Of Pre-Pandemic Levels

• The world tourism industry barely improved last year compared to 2020, with all indicators staying way below pre-pandemic levels and industry professionals not expecting a full recovery before 2024, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said on Tuesday. 
• Rising vaccination rates and the easing of travel restrictions did allow a small rebound in the second half of 2021, Madrid-based UNWTO said in a report, though the spread of the Omicron variant in December triggered another dip in both travel bookings and industry optimism. 
• "The pace of recovery remains slow and uneven across world regions due to varying degrees of mobility restrictions, vaccination rates and traveller confidence," the report said. 
• Global tourism's direct gross product rose 19% in 2021 from 2020 to $1.9 trillion, as each tourist spent more and stayed longer than in 2020. But the tourism industry's revenue still barely surpassed half its 2019 levels. 
• Around 64% of tourism professionals polled by the UNWTO in December do not expect a full recovery before 2024 or later - up from the 45% polled in September when perspectives for travel revival had not yet been marred by Omicron.

(Sources: Reuters)