Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism
[3] Conflicting and unilateral travel restrictions occurred regionally[4][5] and many tourist attractions around the world, such as museums, amusement parks, gyms and sports venues closed down.[8] The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development released a report in June 2021 stating that the global economy could lose over US$4 trillion as a result of the pandemic.[10] A number of college students tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from traditional spring break destinations such as the Florida beaches, South Padre Island, and Cabo San Lucas.Accusations that Dubai was acting as a "super-spreader" of the virus, forced authorities of the emirate to close all bars and pubs for a month on 1 February 2021.[13] As a result of the pandemic, many countries and regions have imposed quarantines, entry bans, or other restrictions for citizens or recent travellers to the most affected areas.[23][failed verification] Cambodia's tourism industry, which amounted to 4.92 billion US dollars, is currently being hit hardest by the ravaging pandemic.[22] Tourism in China has been hit hard by travel restrictions and fears of contagion, including a ban on both domestic and international tour groups.[28] Tourism has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, amid social distancing rules since 26 March 2020, including a ban of organised domestic tours and all tourist attractions closed.[44] In efforts to control the spread of Covid-19, various travel restrictions in Bahrain led the tourism sector to witness losses over BD 1 billion.As stated by Bahrain’s Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Alzayani, the country lost nearly BD 108 million per month following plunge of 29,000 visitors per day.[47] Travelers from Greece and Serbia on business trips or with family ties, and diplomats, humanitarian and transport workers will be allowed to enter Bulgaria from 1 June without undergoing a 14-day quarantine, said Bulgarian Premier Boyko Borisov.[57] The Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC) called on the Government of Australia for financial support especially in light of the large number of small businesses affected.[62] The Consejo Nacional Empresarial Turístico (National Tourism Business Council, CNET) sent two letters in March to Alfonso Romo, Chief of Staff to the President of Mexico, asking for government support for the sector.Most vacation travel was done by car, as gas prices are low and many people prefer to wait to the last minute to plan trips due to uncertainties.Bookings and cancellations grew as extensive media coverage of ill passengers on quarantined ships hurt the industry's image.Tourism is one of the industries that was impacted deeply, and some of the companies are still struggling with the labor shortage issue as employees prefer to stay at home.[82] Budget hotels are hugely impacted due to their characteristics, and are vulnerable as they are mostly owned by individuals lacking finances, manpower, strategy, or a plan to overcome the crisis.
COVID-19 pandemicCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2DeathsTimelineJanuaryresponsesFebruaryAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberLocationsBy country and territoryAfricaAntarcticaEuropeNorth AmericaOceaniaSouth AmericaCruise shipsNaval shipsEndemic phaseEvacuationsFace masksInternational aidOriginLockdownsby countryMisinformationby governmentsFake treatmentsSocial distancingSoftwareTravelUnited NationsWorld Health OrganizationWTO IP waiverUndercounting of deathsCOVID-19 appsZero-COVIDNational responsesEuropean UnionGermanyIrelandNetherlandsNew ZealandNigeriaPhilippinesRussiaSwedengovernmentfederal governmentVietnamDisease testingBreathalyzerDevelopmentDrug developmentDrug repurposingPublic health mitigationVaccinesHistoryResearchDeploymentAuthorizationsOperation Warp SpeedMisinformation and hesitancyVaccine cardVaccine passportsCoronaVacCovaxinConvideciaJanssenMedigenModernaNovavaxOxford–AstraZenecaPfizer–BioNTechSinopharm BIBPSputnik VVariantsVariants of concernOmicronEpsilonLambdaCluster 5Lineage B.1.617Economic impactrecessionArts and cultureAviationCannabisCinemaDisneyFashionFinancial marketsFood industryFood securityJournalismPerforming artsRetailTelevisionsportscastingprogramsVideo gamesCanadaMalaysiaBy sportAssociation footballBaseballBasketballCombat sportsCricketDisc golfGaelic gamesGridiron footballIce hockeyMotorsportRugby leagueImpactsLong COVIDNeurological and psychological symptomsPost-exertional malaiseSocietyAnimals