The tourism sector is trying to recover as the Covid-19 epidemic resumes in some countries. The collapse of tourism linked to the health crisis has caused colossal losses all over the world. Direction Spain and Thailand, two countries where the sector is very important in the national economy.
A timid recovery of tourism in Spain
The Covid-19 epidemic has hit the tourism sector hard, which in Spain represents more than 12% of the national GDP, which is a considerable weight. According to experts, this is the worst crisis in the sector. You should know that in 2019, Spain recorded a new record with the arrival of 83.5 million foreign tourists, who spent more than 90 billion euros. The numbers have been rising steadily for six years. In 2020, following the pandemic, Spain received only 19 million foreign tourists and spending fell 78.5%. A drastic drop which resulted in a very significant loss of earnings for companies in the sector but also in the partial unemployment of 800,000 employees.
The crisis has affected the whole country but it is the most touristic regions that have suffered the most: Catalonia, Andalusia, the region of Valencia, the Canary Islands and, first of all, the Balearics on which the economy mainly depends. tourism. In 2020, the archipelago welcomed less than 2 million foreign tourists, a drop of 88%, in terms of arrivals and spending. However, local authorities have been showing their optimism for several months. “I think the future will be good but as we are coming out of such a tough situation – companies and employees have suffered so much – we are bound to continue to suffer for a while., explained José Hila, the mayor of Palma de Mallorca, during a conference on the future of tourism which took place in May 2021. We are not going to be able to create enough wealth, or jobs, or profits to make up for everything we have lost in a few months. But the bad news is behind us and the good news has already started. “
“I think people have never wanted to travel so much. Everything they couldn’t do for a year, many want to do it now. So I am optimistic. We are awaiting the arrival of tourists with it. with open arms. They have already started to come back and I think that as the months go by, they will be more and more numerous. “
José Hila, the mayor of Palma de Mallorca
In recent months, the tourism sector has indeed benefited from an upturn in activity in Spain, but we must rather speak of a timid recovery. Admittedly, the Balearics welcomed 25% of foreign tourists who arrived in Spain in August, but the figures are significantly lower than in 2019. In all, since the start of the year, 15 million foreign tourists have visited Spain, which represents only nearly 26% of the 58 million travelers welcomed over the same period in 2019. Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto is also optimistic, but business leaders are much more critical. For them, the future of foreign tourism is still too uncertain and even if the Spaniards have traveled widely across the country in 2020, this is only a breath of fresh air and cannot compensate for the slow recovery of international tourism, on which much of the sector depends.
Thailand to reopen its doors to vaccinated tourists
The country is a major global tourist destination that received up to 40 million tourists per year before the pandemic. The country is preparing to reopen its doors to vaccinated tourists, without quarantine, within a few days of November 1. A news received, however, with mixed enthusiasm in the country. Thailand is unrecognizable, especially the southern part of the country which is completely devastated. For millions of Thais, this is the worst economic crisis in recent history. The cessation of tourism, officially the source of 15% of the GDP – but which must represent much more if we take into account the informal economy – has had disastrous consequences.
But the decision to reopen the country while the national vaccination campaign is not completed is not unanimous. Then, it should be noted that it is a reopening which still involves certain constraints for tourists. You can no longer show up at the airport, buy a ticket and end up on a beach a few hours later. Tourists vaccinated and provided with a negative PCR test must spend a night in quarantine while they have the results of another test. All procedures must go through Thai embassies abroad. For tourism professionals, this late and half-hearted reopening will not be enough to save the holiday season.
One decision in particular angered the tourism industry: the maintenance until further notice of the ban on the sale of alcohol in public places. Gone are the days of Thailand, capital of bars and nightclubs and partying; so many elements on which the country had also built its tourist success. All these establishments remain closed for the moment. The bosses of the sector cry out for the excess of caution but it seems that in addition to an extension of safety of this health measure. The Thai government is also seeking with this decision to assess whether it is possible to change the image of Thailand abroad, in particular to reduce or even eradicate sex tourism, which many Thais would like to see less present. A transition towards more upscale, more family-friendly and also more environmentally friendly tourism, which has benefited greatly this year from the cessation of mass tourism. This is what the government is looking for, which is launching several campaigns to promote other aspects of Thai culture, including gastronomy and design, with mixed success for the moment.