Covid-19 Impact on tourism economy

Strong desire for travel is boosting air travel, but poor management of Covid-19 is still impacting the sector’s recovery, according to IATA.

A total of 9.5 million flights are expected in Europe this year recouping 85% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, said Eurocontrol, revising a previous forecast downward from 89%.

Unhindered by news about Covid-19 variants or by rising airfares and hotel rates, 46% of Americans are planning their next getaway, says Deloitte’s latest survey.

Thessaloniki is among the Top 50 International Convention Cities for 2021 having jumped 23 places, according to the latest ICCA ranking.

Travel is firmly back on the agenda for 2022 and travelers are planning to spend more this year, according to a survey released by Skyscanner.

GEPOET, the federation that represents Greek travel agencies and companies that provide tour bus services, is calling for “vital” support measures for 2022.

Hoteliers in Athens are disappointed as occupancy rates, recorded in the first 4 months of the year, marked a 33.6% decline over the same period in pre-pandemic 2019.

ACI Europe has revised upwards its passenger traffic forecast for 2022 and beyond but warned that challenges still exist and can lead to air traffic going “down” again.

Forty percent of property owners with listings on Airbnb are using the income earned through hosting to “make ends meet”, according to a survey by the online platform.

The WTTC has called for a simple one-stop digital solution to use not only during COVID, but during any future health crises that threaten travel and tourism.

The upcoming opening of the summer tourism season has driven demand for accommodation services in Greece during the first quarter of the year.

Greece is set to make a strong comeback as a post-Covid-19 international tourist destination, according to data released by aviation experts Eurocontrol.

Greece’s real GDP will grow by 3.5% in 2022 and remain high at 3.1% in 2023, driven by a full tourism comeback, the European Commission said in its Spring Economic …

Europe’s tourism sector is in a strong recovery and looks set to create up to eight million new jobs over the next 10 years, says the World Travel & Tourism …

The ongoing international crises are affecting the decisions of travelers who are eager to take trips but remain cautious, travel experts said during a conference in Athens.

Tourism is set to recoup losses and go positive following two years of Covid-19 restrictions and measures, found a report released by Alpha Bank.

With Covid-19 travel restrictions being removed in most places, IATA is calling on governments to have plans in place to meet expected demand this summer.

The further opening of borders and easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions led to a significant increase in travel searches during the first three months of 2022, says Expedia.

TUI Group CEO Fritz Joussen expects to see the tourism industry recoup 80% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels this year or even reach 100%.

The hotel sectors in both Athens and Thessaloniki saw an expansion during the two first years of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the latest report by GBR Consulting.