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Re-imagining tourism in a post-pandemic world

September 27^th, 2021

We mark this year’s World Tourism Day approaching the third year of a deadly and damaging pandemic.

While vaccines have enabled some countries to open up to visitors, the economic scars left by the curtailment of a vital industry remain.

The World Tourism Organization has recorded steep drops in tourist numbers in all regions, but Asia Pacific has been hardest hit. For the year 2020, visitors to Mongolia dropped by 89 percent and to China by 88 percent.

Re-imagining tourism in a post-pandemic world

Worldwide, international visitor arrivals fell by 72 percent between January and October 2020, compared with the same period the year before. It translates into a loss of US$935 billion in export revenues—more than 10 times the loss from the global economic crisis of 2008-2009.

Around a third of travel destinations remain closed to tourists.

The losses for tourism and related industries could add up to $4 trillion.

It’s a stark contrast to the tourism boom of recent years and, like the virus itself, it’s exacerbating existing inequalities.

COVID-19 vaccination rates have been massively inequal, from below 1 percent in some countries to above 60 percent in others. The drop in tourism numbers reflects this—the decreased income is far worse in developing countries. Tourism is expected to recover faster in countries with high vaccination rates such as France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

As the virus continues to mutate and spread, UNDP is working with its partners worldwide to support those who depend on tourism for their livelihoods and to re-imagine an industry that can benefit visitors, hosts and the natural world.

Sustainable tourism is an urgent imperative, especially for small island nations.

UNDP is working with its partners across the globe to reimagine tourism and to create an industry that is a force for understanding, equality and sustainability.

COVID-19 has acted as a catalyst for change in the eastern Caribbean. BlueDIGITAL is a pilot experiment from UNDP Accelerator Labs which is attempting to use digital tools to diversify economies and create jobs.

Prior to the pandemic, Sri Lanka’s tourism accounted for around 5 percent of its GDP and was rapidly growing—the numbers of visitors nearly doubled between 2014 and 2018. The initiative Putting People First: Building a More Resilient Tourism Sector in Sri Lanka aims to rebrand Sri Lanka, which for decades has been seen as a mass market destination and move it towards more niche experiences that capitalize on its unique culture, at the same time as creating greater economic protection for those who depend on tourism for their livings.

Cape Verde is the world’s third largest turtle spawning site and depends heavily on tourism. One of its main challenges, due to its location, is keeping its beaches clean of the waste that washes up, particularly plastic. UNDP’s Accelerator Lab is working on ways to create jobs in the blue economy and keep beaches pristine for humans and sea animals.

After the Colombian islands of San Andrés and Providencia were hit by a hurricane in 2020, UNDP’s recovery programme has used 360 degree cameras and drones to build an immersive experience for those who can’t visit in person. It aims to foster empathy and encourage investment in the local economy.

Turkey has enormous potential for green tourism, and a new UNDP initiative is working with power company Enerjisa and Sabanci University to promote new ways of attracting visitors on the popular Aegean coast, while reducing the use of fossil fuels. Building on UNDP’s integrated approach, the initiative will also ensure that local communities benefit.

Working with the Government of New Zealand, Fiji is using the pandemic to reflect on new ways of doing business. It aims, by 2030, to have a tourism industry that is prosperous and inclusive and protects and restores the nation’s culture and ecosystems.

As Mauritius continues to navigate the pandemic, UNDP’s Accelerator Lab is focusing on the ways it can support small businesses. And it’s investigating the potential of long-stay travellers, such as senior citizens and ‘digital nomads’.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development says that while vaccines will play a critical role in helping tourism to recover, it’s unlikely that the industry will rebound to its pre-pandemic levels within the next year or two. UNDP will continue to work with its partners to ensure that the recovery is just and sustainable.