not only had a significant impact on public health, but it also affected one of the linchpins of the global economy, the tourism industry. As many countries introduced travel restrictions to contain the spread of the virus, domestic and international travel significantly declined in early 2020. The financial repercussions of the pandemic manifested later that year when the total
more than halved between 2019 and 2020, decreasing from over five trillion U.S. dollars to 2.44 trillion U.S. dollars. That being said, tourism has seen growth since 2022 and the
in 2033 is forecast to exceed pre-pandemic figures.
The impact of COVID-19 on global tourism industries
Tourism incorporates many industries, including transportation, accommodation, food and drink services, and more. All these industries were impacted in some way by the pandemic. When it came to transportation,
airlines saw an unprecedented drop in passengers due to travel bans and customer uncertainty. Meanwhile,
hotel occupancy rates decreased across all regions worldwide in the early months of 2020. In April of that year, the hotel occupancy rate in Europe saw the most dramatic effects of the virus, with occupancy rates falling to just 11 percent. Affected not only by a loss of tourism but also local customers, the restaurant industry was similarly hard-hit. The
year-over-year change in seated diners worldwide in March 2020 fell by 100 percent compared to 2019, a figure that has only recently exhibited a return to normalcy.
How has the tourism industry changed as a result of COVID-19?
Widespread international travel restrictions in the early stages of the pandemic relegated many travelers to domestic travel. While not the most enticing option for those interested in
global tourism, the increase in domestic tourism boosted local economies and even helped travelers to better appreciate the allure of their own regions. Consequently, domestic tourism now plays a larger role in many people’s travel agendas as shown by the year-over-year increase in
domestic tourism spending worldwide since 2020. Although domestic tourism typically refers to traveling within one’s hometown or country, it can also include one’s house. An up-and-coming digital experience that allows people to travel without leaving their homes is
virtual tourism, which was forecast to boast a market size of over 24 billion U.S. dollars by 2027.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no
liability for the information given being complete or correct.
Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
data than referenced in the text.
