UNWTO – Page 23 – आवारा मुसाफिर

Global tourism lost $320 billion in first five months this year

August 22, 2020397 Views

Travel and tourism have been one of the main industries to be gravely affected by COVID-19, leaving many countries with no choice but to close its borders to tourists for months due to the global pandemic outbreak. This has resulted in huge losses for almost all countries, especially those with high dependence on tourism revenue. UNWTO said in its World Tourism Barometer update for July 2020 that international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) saw a decrease of 56% in the first five months of 2020 over the same period of last year, according to data reported so far by destinations worldwide. International arrivals declined 98% in the month of May. This represents 300 million fewer international tourist arrivals in January-May 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, which tran...

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No time for timid leadership, safe restart of tourism is possible

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

August 20, 2020426 Views

The cost of the restrictions on travel introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is there for all to see. Between January and May, the sudden and rapid fall in tourist arrivals cost an estimated $320 billion. That’s three times greater than the impact of the Great Recession of 2007-2009 on our sector – and this is just for the first five months of the year. The re-opening of borders to tourism is a welcome relief to millions who depend on our sector. But this alone is not enough, especially in view of recent announcements and measures which seem further and further away from the international coordination that UNWTO has been calling for since the pandemic erupted. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili has said in a statement that, in these uncertain times, people ar...

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PATA commits to takes on plastic pollution

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

August 4, 20201174 Views

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has become a signatory of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, led by the United Nations Environment Programme and World Tourism Organization, in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The new set of recommendations outlining how the global tourism sector can continue in its fight against plastic pollution while effectively facing the public health and hygiene challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic were released on 22nd July. The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative unites the tourism sector behind a common vision to address the root causes of plastic pollution. It enables businesses and governments to take concerted action, leading by example in the shift towards a circularity in the use of plastics. As a signatory of the Glo...

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Recognize needs of travellers with disabilities

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

August 4, 20201761 Views

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has called on destinations to recognize the needs of travellers with disabilities or specific access requirements as they open up to visitors again. In partnership with the ONCE Foundation of Spain and the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), the United Nations specialized agency has released new guideline to ensure accessibility and inclusivity as the responsible restart of tourism gets underway. According to the newest data from UNWTO, 40% of global destinations have now eased restrictions on travel introduced in response to COVID-19. Now, with tourism steadily returning, UNWTO has joined disabled people’s organizations and organizations from across civil society to design a basic set of recommendations aimed at maintaining ...

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Worldwide 40% destinations have eased travel restrictions, says UNWTO

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

July 31, 2020458 Views

The responsible restart of tourism is underway around the world as growing numbers of destinations ease COVID-19 related travel restrictions and adapt to the new reality. According to the latest analysis from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 40% of all destinations worldwide have now eased the restrictions they placed on international tourism in response to COVID-19. The United Nations specialized agency for tourism has been monitoring global responses to the pandemic from the start of the crisis. This latest outlook, recorded on 19 July, is up from 22% of destinations that had eased restrictions on travel by 15 June and the 3% previously observed by 15 May. It confirms the trend of a slow but continuous adaptation and responsible restart of international tourism. At the ...

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Dramatic fall in tourism puts millions of livelihoods at risk

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

July 28, 2020882 Views

The enormous toll of COVID-19 on international tourism has now become clear, with World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) data showing the cost up to May was already three times that of the 2009 Global Economic Crisis. As the situation continues to evolve, the United Nations specialized agency has provided the first comprehensive insight into the impact of the pandemic, both in tourist numbers and lost revenues, ahead of the upcoming release of up-to-date information on travel restrictions worldwide. UNWTO Confidence Index has dropped to record lows The latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer shows that the near-complete lockdown imposed in response to the pandemic led to a 98 per cent fall in international tourist numbers in May when compared to 2019. The Barometer also show...

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Tourism leaders will meet and decide future course at WTM

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

July 28, 2020632 Views

With dates and schedule for WTM London confirmed, hopes are now pinned on the meet to give the now rudderless travel and tourism industry a definite course for the years to come. Although WTM is an annual feature, but the way COVID-19 has made a catastrophic effect on the industry, this year’s met has garnered much interest among the tourism leaders worldwide to see what lies ahead. Therefore, there is no doubt that Ministers’ Summit at WTM has gained importance to set out a roadmap for a safer, greener and smarter future for the sector. The summit is the largest annual gathering of tourism ministers and will feature a day-long think-tank on Monday 2nd November during WTM London – the leading global event for the travel industry. About 100 ministers are expected to take part, along...

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Different policies and rules add to travel confusion

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

July 24, 20201148 Views

Worldwide differences in definitions and guidelines of quarantine and self-isolation are creating confusion and difficulty for travelers. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has called for more consistent travel rules and COVID-19 advice by different countries to counter confusion by travellers and holidaymakers. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, terms such as ‘quarantine’ and ‘self-isolation’ have become much more commonplace now. Indeed, with COVID-19 restrictions in place in almost every country or territory in the world, international and even some domestic travel at this stage involves some form of quarantine or isolation. Those journeying to Europe for the first time since travel restrictions began to ease have faced a baffling array of different types of travel...

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UNWTO invites startups to pitch ways to accelerate SDGs

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

July 19, 20201277 Views2

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has announced the launch of a new Startup Competition as it looks to identify innovators with the power to further tourism’s contribution to sustainable development. As the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, UNWTO has been guiding the sector’s efforts to contribute to the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including through the Tourism 4 SDGs online platform. Now, as the global community faces just 10 years to reach this ambitious agenda for people and planet, tourism’s unique ability to advance several of the SDGs is more relevant than ever. Against the backdrop of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, held under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC...

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Shared determination to restart tourism and drive recovery

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

July 9, 2020365 Views

Over the past month, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was able to hold virtually meetings of its five Regional Commissions to share responses to the challenge of COVID-19 and their plans for the restart of tourism in the wake of the pandemic. For the first time ever, the five regional bodies of Member States of the United Nations specialized agency, met virtually rather than in person. The annual series of meetings got underway with the Regional Commission for Africa, and this was followed by meetings of the Regional Commissions for the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific and finally the Middle East region. In all instances, representatives of Member States, including Ministers of Tourism, were joined UNWTO Affiliate Members, including leaders from across the private sector. ...