Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Is it safe to travel now? Yes, says World Tourism Organisation

Is it safe to travel now? Yes, says World Tourism Organisation

The UN agency has criticised governments for not doing enough to get people travelling, and says they should use coronavirus testing at airports and track-and-trace apps instead of keeping borders closed.

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) wants governments “to do everything they can to get people travelling again”.

In a statement this week, the agency’s secretary general, Zurab Pololikashvili, criticised governments for being “overly focused” on health and described as “not enough” the “reopening of borders to tourism” seen to date.

Citing the “sudden and rapid fall in tourist arrivals” caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the UNWTO said governments have a “responsibility to protect businesses and livelihoods”.

The Madrid-based agency estimated in July that a collapse in travel between January and May cost US$320 billion, three times the losses to tourism incurred during the 2007-09 financial crisis and equivalent to Colombia’s gross domestic product.


A sign urging visitors to stay at home in Llanberis in Snowdonia, north Wales.


A man wearing a mask passes by the Colosseum in Rome in Italy.



After coronavirus case numbers surged in March, the World Health Organisation, another UN agency, declared the outbreak to be a pandemic.

Countries imposed lockdowns and border curbs that saw international traveller numbers fall 98 per cent year on year in May, the UNTWO said.


A worker disinfects chairs at the airport in Manila in the Philippines.


Cyclists ride their bicycles along the promenade at Marina Bay. Countries such as Singapore introduced travel restrictions as early as January.


Authorities should now “fully embrace” preventive measures such as “rapid but rigorous testing at ports and airports” as well as tracing and tracking apps – which, the UNWTO said, “have the potential to drive the safe restart of tourism”.

While European restrictions were loosened from June after new daily case numbers dropped, many Asian borders remain closed to tourists.

Countries such as Singapore introduced travel restrictions as early as January – shortly after word of a virus outbreak emerged in China, source of around a fifth of Singapore's visitors.

More than 781,000 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded worldwide, according to official data collated by Johns Hopkins University.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
Intel Reports Revenue Beats but Sees 81% Rise in Losses
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
Tulsi Gabbard Unveils Evidence Alleging Political Manipulation of Intelligence During Trump Administration
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi K2: A New Open-Source AI Model
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
×