Having been dealt “fatal” blows since the Covid-19 pandemic appeared, the world tourism industry is trying to get up, but reviving is not easy.
The famous Nissi beach of Cyprus, taken on May 21, 2021. Travelers are required to take a Covid-19 test prior to departure. (Source: AP) Countries, especially those heavily dependent on tourism, are racing to revive amid the still raging Covid-19 pandemic. While some countries confidently promote border opening, some countries, including the rate of Covid-19 vaccination among the population is quite high, still struggling to “open” or “closed” the border. gender. The World Travel & Tourism Council estimated the tourism industry lost nearly $4.5 trillion and 62 million jobs last year. Airlines alone lost $126 billion in 2020 and are likely to lose another $48 billion this year. “Headache” because each place has a style The rollout of a Covid-19 vaccine is well underway in many parts of the world, giving confidence to governments and excitement to those who love to travel. However, those who are planning travel trips sometimes feel like they are lost in the matrix of regulations because each place is different and even rapidly changing. For example, Cyprus imposes restrictions on countries considered to be at higher risk, requiring incoming passengers to take a negative PCR test 72 hours before departure and one more test. when entering this country. Travelers must also self-isolate until test results are released. Constantinos Victoras, general manager of NissiBlu hotel located near the famous white sand beach of Ayia Napa, said that although the infection rate in Cyprus has decreased significantly in the past two weeks, it is not until the end of June that everything is new. becomes more obvious. At that time, tour operators and airlines were just starting to plan and organize flights. “Things are still very vague,” says Victoras. Swedish tourists Agatha and Simon Godurkiewicz said they chose to vacation in Cyprus because they were tired of the pandemic. Agatha Godurkiewicz said: “We are fed up with life during the pandemic. When the epidemic first appeared, we panicked, but now we are learning to live together.” Confident Europe The economies of the Mediterranean countries, including Greece, Spain and Turkey, are heavily dependent on tourism. Tourists from these countries began to breathe a sigh of relief when last week the European Union (EU) agreed to allow travelers who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or come from other countries. countries are considered safe to enter. The Covid-19 digital certification will help Europeans who meet the above criteria travel more conveniently at the start of the tourist season without having to be isolated or tested when traveling to another country. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said last week that Spain would begin allowing visitors from Britain, Japan, the United States and some other countries to enter if they have been vaccinated. Foreign tourists have begun to appear in Greece after authorities allowed people from the European Union and 21 other countries with vaccination and test certificates to enter. On the Greek island of Naxos, business owners have begun pulling furniture out of storage, cleaning floors and reopening once crowded seaside pubs. Naxos Mayor Dimitris Lianos said: “People here are very optimistic and there are a lot of bookings in the last two weeks. From now until the end of the year, the outlook will be bright. I’m sure of that.” Croatia has also reopened. The country is one of the few places in Europe that Americans can easily visit. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have announced the opening of direct flights from New York to Dubrovnik this summer. Cautious Asia The Covid-19 epidemic is breaking out again throughout parts of Asia, making some countries and territories more reticent when it comes to strategies to open up the tourism industry. After a new outbreak, Hong Kong and Singapore abandoned injections for travelers entering without quarantine. Hong Kong even extended the mandatory quarantine period for many unvaccinated travelers. Meanwhile, China has set up additional checkpoints at tollgates, airports and train stations in Liaoning province, where new cases arose this month. Travelers must present proof of a negative test result for the Sars-cov-2 virus. Thailand, which closed its borders and strictly controlled the outbreak last year, allowed some foreign visitors to enter under strict control in the fall. But the worst outbreak in late March caused the country to completely change its policy. Bangkok has closed entertainment venues and parks, encouraged people to work from home and banned outdoor dining. Streets in the capital and many resorts of Thailand are almost empty of people. Travel-related job losses are on the rise. Middle East and Africa eagerly When the outbreak emerged last year, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) closed its borders and airports. The capital, Abu Dhabi, applies strict measures, including mandatory isolation, even for fully vaccinated residents returning from some epidemic-hit countries. But the UAE’s largest city, Dubai, has been open to tourists since July last year. In addition to meeting the requirement for a negative Covid-19 test, visitors are subject to a number of other restrictions that are not too strict. Dubai – home to the world’s busiest airport, a hub for international travelers – is attracting visitors from Europe with its wide-open beaches, bars, hotel pools, restaurants, cinemas. movies, amusement parks and spas. Social distancing and wearing of masks are mandatory. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, the largest country in the Gulf, does not allow tourists to enter the country. Citizens of Saudi Arabia, who have been banned from traveling since March 2020, are allowed to travel abroad starting this month if they are vaccinated or have recently recovered from the Sars-Cov virus infection. 2. Despite struggling to cope with a new wave of infections, Egypt is trying to attract more foreign tourists. Beaches, cafes and restaurants located within guests are allowed to stay open. Travelers are required to present a negative Covid-19 test prior to entry. Latin America and the Caribbean: An open place, a shy place Visitors to the Caribbean countries fell by two-thirds last year, a low not seen since the 1980s. Bermuda was one of the hardest hit, with an 84% drop. Some islands, including Bonaire, Martinique and Montserrat still ban tourists from most countries. On some other islands, tourists are allowed to return provided they are monitored by electronic tracking devices. Several islands, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines have launched campaigns to attract tourists. Cruise lines are being sent from the US to Caribbean ports this summer. The US Virgin Islands has been the region’s success story this year, with arrivals falling just 27% between January and March. Meanwhile, Mexico does not ban flights, does not require visitors to be tested or quarantined upon arrival. This makes the number of tourists, although still decreasing, at a stable level, especially to sea tourist destinations. However, Mexico’s open policy angered some people in popular tourist areas. The rate of people infected with Covid-19 and hospitalized is increasing. Assistant Health Minister Hugo López-Gatell warned: “If public activities are not reduced, the situation will worsen.” USA and Canada: Be cautious The US continues to ban most visitors from Europe, China, India, Brazil and elsewhere. Incoming international visitors, including US citizens, must be tested for Covid-19 before boarding. The US State Department discourages business trips abroad, labeling many countries around the world as high risk. The border between the US and Canada remains closed for non-essential travel until June 21. Domestic air travel in the US is close to returning to 2019 levels. Many tourism businesses have shown impatience, saying that the Biden administration is too reticent to allow more international tourists to enter in the context that most of the country’s population has been vaccinated against Covid-19. -19. (according to AP)
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