Tourism, Organisations & Operators,

The World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE), an impartial body which reports directly to the UNWTO General Assembly, met under a new chair and with a new composition. After deliberations, the Committee agreed to issue the following statement:
The World Committee on Tourism Ethics, welcoming the statement of UN Secretary-General that “Continuing the war in Ukraine is morally unacceptable, politically indefensible and militarily nonsensical”, in firm belief that tourism is a vital force for peace and a factor for friendship and mutual understanding among the peoples of the world, urges the Russian Federation to end its invasion against Ukraine which is putting millions of lives at risk, threatening their peace and security. Guided by Article 1 of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, the Committee calls on all efforts to be extended towards peace negotiations in accordance with the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter.
While the right to tourism is forcibly taken away during conflicts, tourism is always a reminder of the importance of dialogue, peace, tolerance, and sustainable development among countries.
The WCTE functions are to interpret, apply, and evaluate the provisions of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, in addition to ensuring the promotion of its ethical principles and the monitoring of its practical implementation by governments and the private sector.

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With Americans searching for affordable travel alternatives this summer in the wake of inflation, new research shows “nearcations” and vehicle rentals may be the way to go — especially for those who are scaling back on vacation plans to stay closer to home and setting up a vacation budget in the wake of inflation and rising costs.
The new research stems from Outdoorsy’s Vacation on a Budget study, conducted by OnePoll to get real time perspective on travel behaviors ahead of this summer. The survey found that 52% of travelers noted they turn to rental vehicles while on vacation in order to save money, with 9 in 10 prefering to rent something they can easily sleep or stay in, rather than book a hotel. And 49% prefer to rent something just as luxurious or economical as what they have at home.
“While other vacation types have seen dramatic rises in cost over the past year in line with inflation, our average RV rental trip price has only gone up $5 over last year, representing a .28% increase,” said Jeff Cavins, co-founder and CEO of Outdoorsy, the leading global RV rental and outdoor travel marketplace. “Compare this to a 40% increase in hotel prices YoY, and you can see why we believe road trips are more insulated from inflation and also still a very affordable vacation option for those looking to keep their summer vacation plans intact.”
Nearly six in 10 survey respondents (58%) said they plan to vacation closer to home this summer to beat out inflation and rising gas prices. For those who may have had to dip into their vacation budget just to make ends meet elsewhere (72%), a “nearcation” is the perfect option for a vacation that offers the feeling of a getaway without the blow to your wallet.
Outdoorsy’s Vacation on a Budget survey also found that:ADVERTISEMENT >Over half of the 2,000 adults surveyed (56%) don’t believe they can afford a vacation this year because of inflation. But that’s not enough to stop them from trying, as 58% have been saving and setting aside more money to keep their vacation hopes afloat.
Reaffirming the busy travel season that lies ahead, almost 70% said they’re still planning to hit the road this year despite possible budget woes.
Half of the surveyed participants have a budget set up specifically for summer vacation, averaging $1,237. Four out of five of those with summer travel budgets in place said their plans were impacted by inflation.
1 in 3 said they would rather scale back on vacation plans to fit a smaller budget than not to have a vacation at all. And 56% said they’ve been successful in planning a vacation around a smaller-than-usual budget.
To save money, vacation-goers are planning to spend less on attractions (40%), lodging (40%), and clothing (39%).
Some parts of vacations, however, can’t be given up. Respondents said going out to restaurants (30%), visiting free attractions (28%) and traveling by vehicle (28%) are “vital to have, no matter the budget.”
There’s plenty to look forward to this vacation season and respondents say they’re most excited about travel this year because it will allow them to spend time with their families (57%), see new places (55%), make memories (55%), and get some much-needed time to themselves (52%).
“Inflation is an ever-present variable in the travel consumer sector. Travel trends are typically reflected in people’s spending habits,” said Cavins. “With that said, inflation’s effect on RV travel will be minimal. For families, heading outdoors not only offers a more affordable alternative to other modes of travel, but time in nature can also be a more fun and educational experience. Nearby, local state parks are some of our country’s best hidden gems that offer neverending opportunities for adventure and wonder.”
As Americans approach a “sold out summer,” Outdoorsy is the most reliable source for booking a dream getaway — whether that’s across the country or to a hidden gem closer to home — without having to factor in overpriced hotel rooms and frequent flight cancellations. With over 25,000 RVs available in 4,800 cities across the U.S., travelers have the chance to shift their travel plans to a more affordable option — an RV vacation — to enjoy unique travel experiences that foster quality time with loved ones and time to recharge in nature.
Cavins continued: “RV vacations are great for consumers’ pocketbooks in the current financial climate as they represent a cost savings of up to 21-64% for a four-person travel party (RVIA), by removing unnecessary spending out of travel and allowing consumers to be at ease. Knowing they can go to the grocery store and purchase a week’s worth of food for their trip at the same price it would cost to take the whole family out for dinner one night is the type of cost-saving trade-off you experience with RV travel. Many families who are concerned about shifting gas prices don’t realise they can also get an RV delivered to a campsite or destination of their choice — easily creating their own low-cost, luxury hotel room under the stars.”

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Resorts World Las Vegas unveiled plans for its ‘World of Difference’ community engagement efforts, partnering with 40 Southern Nevada-based non-profits for 2022. The resort’s partnerships span over several categories, including education empowerment, health and wellness, military and veteran services and more.
This announcement comes after the property’s recent success granting two life-changing wishes from start to finish through Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada, as well as over 1,380 hours of team member volunteering in 2021. Since the start of 2022, Resorts World Las Vegas and its employees have actively engaged with their identified non-profit partners through volunteer efforts and support.
“We undertook a great deal of research and visited many organizations to establish our core partnerships for 2022,” said Lori Calderon-Flahive, Executive Director of Community Engagement for Resorts World Las Vegas. “Our intent was to identify core charitable partners that allow for measurable impact and are passionate about uplifting our community. We look forward to working with them more in 2022 and getting our team members involved.”
The ‘World of Difference’ campaign is focused on building long-term partnerships with core charitable organizations that align with Resorts World Las Vegas’s corporate values and offers opportunities for team members to have meaningful impacts on the community through volunteering. For 2022, Resorts World Las Vegas selected charitable partners whose efforts focus on serving and supporting seven areas of need within the Las Vegas Community. These areas of focus include: equality and safety education, education empowerment, health and wellness resources, service organizations for homelessness and those in need, military and veteran services, youth services and animal welfare.ADVERTISEMENTIn addition to these core charitable organizations, Resorts World Las Vegas is committed to actively engaging in efforts of social impact, diversity, equity and inclusion.

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The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has published a new report on best practices and support for governments for the introduction of a ‘Digital Travel Portal’ to allow safe travel to reduce delays at airports.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a lack of global coordination as governments introduced a constant patchwork of digital and paper requirements.
WTTC is calling for alignment to build resilience and ensure there is a clear global system focused on an individual’s health status that does not bring international travel to a standstill, which throughout the pandemic caused serious economic damage.
‘Implementing a Digital Travel Portal’, created by WTTC and The Commons Project Foundation, is aimed at governments and builds on the previously released ‘Digital Solutions for Reviving International Travel’ report published in December 21’.
The report gives a blueprint to governments on how to implement a Digital Travel Portal not only during COVID, but during any future health crises that threaten economies and global Travel & Tourism, by ensuring health checks are based on the individual, prior to travelling, to achieve a seamless journey.ADVERTISEMENTThe portal would enable travellers to electronically share, for instance, their digital COVID vaccination status, or any other required documentation, before they begin their journey.
Once booked, travellers would simply visit the online portal managed by the destination, where their documentation would be uploaded, verifying in seconds their status.
The data can also be combined with other standard security and visa requirements.
The previous report provided eight recommendations and addressed the global challenge posed by ever-changing policies and processes, which are not only complex and unsustainable, but also further hinder the recovery of an already struggling sector.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Over the past two years, governments reached for their own solutions to halt the pandemic by restricting travel, but the result was chaos. Chaos for the confused traveller and chaos for economies with the loss of 62 million jobs worldwide in 2020.
“Today we publish a report that provides guidance on how to create a single digital travel solution that governments can adopt and join up at an international level.
“If we ever face another pandemic, we must do a better job. People should be allowed to travel based on their individual health status by using a one-stop government digital platform before they start their journey.
“Governments talk about resilience post COVID. By investing in this system now, governments and their economies will be better protected against any future pandemics.”
Zhenya Lindgardt, CEO of The Commons Project Foundation, said: “As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, now is the time for governments to ensure preparedness for whatever may come next.
“The past two years have shown us that health will likely remain a core component of border crossing moving forward, and the implementation of digital portals for health status verification is a critical step toward building more resilience in the face of public health crises.
“The Commons Project is proud to support WTTC in its effort to help countries lay this foundation for resuming safe travel and keeping borders open.”
The report offers 12 recommendations as general best practice principles to be applied to the whole Digital Travel Portal: privacy by design and default, compliance with data protection and privacy laws, language capability, 24×7 communication, and legal path in case of disputes, amongst others.
The report also provides five recommendations related to specific features and functionalities considered to be critical for an effective portal, providing health security and an efficient experience, such as traveller questionnaire, and government integration, amongst others.
For countries still requiring COVID status checks of travellers, this report (along with the December report) provides best practice advice for collecting and analysing traveller health status information pre-travel and digitally connecting the output with travel operators, reducing traveller anxiety and burden at airports
For countries that have removed COVID status checks, this report also provides a resilience and preparedness tool for the next pandemic, or other major incident, with best practice advice on how to efficiently collect and process digital health traveller information before their journey.
Lastly, Digital Travel Portals could also be integrated with other government services, such as visa application processes, to provide an efficient digital one-stop-shop for governments and travellers.
To read the report in full, please click here.

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Long considered the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day Weekend is always a thrilling time to visit Las Vegas. Whether splashing under the sun at a dayclub, dancing the night away at a top-notch nightclub, or enjoying the destination’s very best entertainment, Vegas is the place to be.

Fun Under the SunE11EVEN Miami is taking over Ayu Day Club at Resorts World Las Vegas throughout the holiday weekend, bringing a lineup of EDM artists to the Strip’s newest outdoor oasis. Revelers will enjoy performances by Cash Cash (Friday, May 27), Zedd (Saturday, May 28) and DJ Snake (Sunday, May 29).
AZILO Ultra Pool at SAHARA Las Vegas presents a Memorial Day Weekend Party on Saturday, May 28 featuring Jay Sean as the event’s celebrity guest DJ. The event also features a cocktail tasting and a cornhole contest with prizes.
The Citrus Grand Pool Deck, situated on the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino rooftop, features a sparkling infinity pool, backyard games and more. To kick off the summer season, Citrus will welcome DJs Mark Mac and Sam I Am (Saturday, May 28), as well as DJs Seany Mac and Krillz (Sunday, May 29). Admission is free for hotel guests. Non-hotel guests can reserve a table or cabana to access the pool.ADVERTISEMENTDAYLIGHT Beach Club at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino offers revelers summertime vibes complete with electrifying performances by Saint Jhn (Saturday, May 28), Fat Joe (Sunday, May 29), and Rubi Rose (Monday, May 30).
Jump into the fun at Drai’s Beachclub on the multi-level rooftop oasis 11 stories above the Strip at The Cromwell Las Vegas, which offers unmatched views, refreshing cocktails and much more. Attendees will enjoy performances and DJ sets by artists such as DJ Vision (Friday, May 27), Meek Mill (Saturday, May 28), Lil Wayne (Sunday, May 29), and Maria Romano (Monday, May 30).
Élia Beach Club at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas presents a packed lineup throughout the weekend at the luxurious space inspired by the Greek island of Mykonos. Attendees can enjoy refreshing cocktails while taking in performances by Eric D-Lux (Friday, May 27), Chance the Rapper (Saturday, May 28) and Lane 8 & Elderbrook (Sunday, May 29).
The tiered, three-pool Encore Beach Club at Wynn Las Vegas, complete with cabanas and daybeds for total poolside comfort, presents a lineup of EDM artists throughout the weekend. Attendees can party to the beats of Kim Lee (Friday, May 27), David Guetta (Saturday, May 28), and The Chainsmokers (Sunday, May 29).
The Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis at Caesars Palace is a sprawling oasis with numerous pools. Visitors can reserve refreshed pool cabanas, as well as check out the renovated pool bar at the Venus Pool.

Enjoy poolside fun at GO Pool at Flamingo Las Vegas. The summer hotspot offers a unique tropical oasis with cascading waterfalls, lagoons, prime views of the High Roller observation wheel, drink specials, themed floats and beach balls, and more. Cabana or daybed reservations are encouraged for guaranteed entry.
Influence, The POOL at The LINQ Hotel + Experience regularly offers poolside fun complete with life-sized games and beer pong, plus amazing food and cocktails. The party pool will feature a night swim event on Friday, May 27, themed floats and beach balls throughout the weekend, a red, white and blue cocktail special and a DJ spinning Friday, May 27 through Monday, May 30.
Make a splash at LIQUID Pool Lounge located at ARIA Resort & Casino. The intimate hideaway celebrates the long weekend with five days of revelry, featuring sets by DJ Karma (Thursday, May 26), DJ Buza (Friday, May 27), DJ Drama (Saturday, May 28), Nova (Sunday, May 29), and CC Elise (Monday, May 30). Enjoy the luxurious atmosphere in one of eight cabanas or day beds, along with dipping pools, refreshing cocktails and delicious food offerings.
Surrounded by the energy of the Las Vegas Strip, the rooftop Marquee Dayclub at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas offers specialty cocktails, spectacular views and performances from some of today’s top DJs and artists. The celebratory weekend lineup features Cable (Thursday, May 26), John Summit (Friday, May 27), Fisher (Saturday, May 28), Chris Lake (Sunday, May 29) and Escobar (Monday, May 30).
The Scene Pool Deck at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino has reopened its FlowRider surfing attraction, where visitors can experience a wave riding simulation in a safe and exciting environment.
Stadium Swim at Circa Resort & Casino features six pools, surrounded by lounge chairs, cabanas and daybeds—all offering a perfect view of its massive, 40-foot-tall high-definition screen playing the day’s best sports action.
The long-running LGBTQ pool party, Temptation Sundays at Luxor Hotel and Casino, turns the energy up with a set by DJ Jae Fusz on Sunday, May 29.
Visitors can take in the lush scenery of the Balinese-inspired TAO Beach Dayclub at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas throughout the holiday weekend. The party pool will feature DJ sets from some of today’s top names, including Loud Luxury (Friday, May 27), Alesso (Saturday, May 28), TYGA, Lil Jon and BIA (Sunday, May 29), and DJ Pauly D (Monday, May 30).
WET REPUBLIC at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino keeps the action rolling all weekend with music, cocktails and more. Visitors will enjoy beats by EDM greats such as Steve Aoki (Friday, May 27), Martin Garrix and Justin Mylo (Saturday, May 28), Kaskade (Sunday, May 29), and Lil Jon (Monday, May 30).

Dance all WeekendNeon Dream returns to AREA15 this Memorial Day Weekend, taking over the immersive playground with vibrant beats, mesmerizing performances and awe-inspiring art on Saturday, May 28. With performances by Tritonal, Firebeatz, Haliene, Jack Beats and more, attendees will enjoy DJ sets inside The Portal, AREA15’s 360-degree 3D projection-mapped room, and outside in the A-Lot, AREA15’s outdoor event space. The experience is complete with psychedelic spectacles, food and drinks, roaming live performances, interactive art exhibits and much more. Also at AREA 15 is Illuminarium, which will officially launch its SPACE: To The Moon and Beyond attraction for guests to explore the great unknown.
DAYLIGHT Beach Club at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino keeps the party going long after the sun goes down with DJ Romeo (Friday, May 27) and Simp City: The Hottest R&B Party (Saturday, May 28).
Drai’s Nightclub at The Cromwell Las Vegas features a jam-packed weekend of thrilling performances by today’s top artists. The weekend kicks off with Swim Night featuring Busta Rhymes (Thursday, May 26), and continues with full-length concerts from Meek Mill (Friday, May 27) and Lil Wayne (Saturday, May 28), as well as a performance by Lil Baby (Sunday, May 29).
While Encore Beach Club at Wynn Las Vegas offers daytime fun under the sun, the lavish oasis also features nighttime parties complete with world-class entertainment. This year’s Encore Beach Club at Night lineup features RL Grime (Friday, May 27) and Gryffin (Saturday, May 28).
Hakkasan Nightclub at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino welcomes summer with four nights of fantastic entertainment. Attendees can dance the night away to NGHTMRE (Thursday, May 26), TYGA (Friday, May 27), Lil Jon (Saturday, May 28), and Mustard (Sunday, May 29).
JEWEL Nightclub at ARIA Resort & Casino keeps the party going all weekend, with sets by BIA (Friday, May 27) and Pusha T (Saturday, May 28). The venue caps the celebration with its Flawless Monday Anniversary Party, featuring a performance by O.T. Genasis, on Monday, May 30.
Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas welcomes revelers to party the night away at the rooftop space to the sounds of Afrojack (Friday, May 27) and DJ Pauly D (May 29). Visitors can also enjoy a nighttime swim during its Drenched After Dark party featuring beats by Justin Credible (Sunday, May 29).
OMNIA Las Vegas at Caesars Palace offers visitors stunning views of the Strip from its outdoor terrace, in between dancing to the sounds of Martin Garrix and Justin Mylo (Friday, May 27), Above & Beyond (Saturday, May 28), and Steve Aoki (Sunday, May 29).
TAO Nightclub at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas kicks the weekend off with Eric D-Lux (Thursday, May 26), and the revelry only continues with Brody Jenner and Devin Lucien (Friday, May 27) and O.T. Genasis (Saturday, May 28).
The luxurious indoor/outdoor XS Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas presents five nights of celebration, including a SKAM Artist Takeover featuring Kim Lee, Deux Twins, Justin Credible and DJ Five (Thursday, May 26), Dillon Francis (Friday, May 27), Marshmello (Saturday, May 28), David Guetta (Sunday, May 29), and La Selva featuring Monolink and WhoMadeWho (Monday, May 30).
E11EVEN Miami is also taking over Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World Las Vegas to welcome the summer season, offering two nights of electrifying performances at the state-of-the-art space. Attendees will enjoy performances by Louis the Child (Friday, May 27) and Tiësto (Saturday, May 28).

The Biggest Names in EntertainmentCountry artist Keith Urban returns to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for another string of dates in his long-running residency at the iconic venue from Friday, May 27 to Sunday, May 29.
The Citrus Grand Pool Deck at Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino presents Reggae on the Roof on Saturday, May 28, featuring DJ Kali Madden, MC Tuff Like Iron and DJ Finesse.
Rocker Jack White makes his return to Las Vegas taking the stage at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Sunday, May 29.
The Fremont Street Experience will celebrate the holiday weekend with back-to-back concerts as part of its Downtown Rocks Free Concert Series. Visitors can enjoy the sounds of pop rockers X Ambassadors on Saturday, May 28, followed by a set by Starship featuring Mickey Thomas on Sunday, May 29.
New Kids on the Block brings its Mixtape Tour to Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on Sunday, May 29.
The Eagles will bring The Final Hotel California Show of 2022 to MGM Grand Garden Arena at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on Saturday, May 28.
The Doobie Brothers will play another string of dates of their residency at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Friday, May 27 and Saturday, May 28.
Katy Perry brings her PLAY residency back to the Resorts World Theatre at Resorts World Las Vegas from Friday, May 27 to Sunday, May 29.
The Sand Dollar Downtown at The Plaza Hotel & Casino celebrates its grand opening during Memorial Day Weekend, featuring entertainment from Crash Midnight on Friday, May 27 and Artur Menezes on Saturday, May 28.
Rex Orange County is set to take the stage at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on Friday, May 27. The venue follows that up with a concert from Limp Bizkit, which brings its Still Sucks tour—also featuring special guests Wargasm UK and Dying Wish—to The Theater on Saturday, May 28.
Resident performer Sebastian Maniscalco will present his Nobody Does This set at Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29.

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Credit: David Merron & Quark Expeditions
Quark Expeditions, the recognised Leader in Polar Adventures, has announced a much-awaited return to the rarely-visited emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea of Antarctica. The 14-day Emperor Penguin Quest: Expedition to Snow Hill will have two departures in November 2023.
“The legendary emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island holds a special place in our hearts and in the history of Quark Expeditions,” said Andrew White, President of Quark Expeditions. “In 2004, Quark Expeditions made polar history when we conducted the first-ever ground visit to the remote emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill. Driven by a true expeditionary spirit—and guided by years of polar expertise—our team sailed past masses of dense ice and thick, tabular icebergs in the Weddell Sea to experience the legendary rookery, which now numbers 8,000 breeding pairs of emperor penguins. Today, it is one of the most exclusive wildlife viewing experiences on the planet. Our guests will be able to embrace the thrill of the search as we travel on Ultramarine—with its two Airbus H145 helicopters—on the new ship’s first attempt to visit the emperor penguins at Snow Hill. We’re confident our guests will be rewarded with scenes reminiscent of BBC’s ‘Frozen Planet.’ Observing thousands of penguins sliding across the ice into the sea—what wilderness adventure can compete with that!”
The ultimate aim of the Emperor Penguin Quest: Expedition to Snow Hill itinerary is to take guests to the penguin colony itself. However, Quark Expeditions has designed every day of the itinerary to be adventurous and educational, and to enable guests to experience the expeditionary spirit that fueled polar explorers more than a century ago.
“This is a one-of-a-kind voyage,” said Alex McNeil, Director of Expedition Experience and Innovation for Quark Expeditions. “Guests will experience a true polar quest as they journey on our new ship, Ultramarine, which is equipped with two twin-engine H145 helicopters that will fly them to the vicinity of this rarely-visited rookery, whereupon they will walk across the thick sea ice to stand within metres of the most coveted penguin species on the planet. While at base on Ultramarine, guests will have the opportunity to experience Zodiac cruising among the icebergs, paddle-on-top kayaking, join scientists on drifting ice floes as they demonstrate their research techniques, or work with specialist ice navigators and meteorologists to observe and learn about crucial weather and ice forecasting and ship operations up close.”ADVERTISEMENTAnother key component of the Emperor Penguin Quest: Expedition to Snow Hill itinerary is the bespoke daily educational program tailored specifically for this voyage. Quark Expeditions’ team of polar experts, who include penguin scientists, ornithologists, biologists and polar historians, will present on various aspects of emperor penguins and their behaviors, ice formations such as the tabular icebergs which will be visible from the ship deck, and the experiences of polar explorers who braved the Weddell Sea over a century ago. Guests can also choose to take the polar plunge, try stand-up paddleboarding or enjoy some pampering thanks to Ultramarine’s superb onboard amenities, such as the spa, sauna and fitness room.
“To make this trip even more intimate,” said McNeil, “we’ve reduced guest capacity to 150 and increased the number of expedition staff so there will be one expedition team member for every four guests—who will truly experience the expedition of a lifetime!”
Quark Expeditions is considered as the World’s Leading Specialist Cruise Line 2021 by World Travel Awards.

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Germany’s tourism sector poised to surpass pre-pandemic levels next year

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The World Travel & Tourism Council’s latest Economic Impact (EIR) reveals the travel and tourism sector in Germany will catapult the national economic recovery and could surpass pre-pandemic levels next year, nearly 2.5% above 2019 levels.
The forecast from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), shows the sector’s contribution to GDP could reach more than €364 billion by next year.
Travel and tourism in Germany is set to boost the national economic recovery with an average growth rate outpacing the overall country’s economy growth for the next 10 years.
According to the report, travel and tourism’s GDP is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 1.3% annually between 2022-2032, above the 1.1% growth rate for the country’s economy, to reach more than €394 billion (9.7% of the total economy).ADVERTISEMENTThe forecast also reveals the travel and tourism sector is expected to create almost half a million jobs in the next 10 years, averaging more than 47,000 every year.
By the end of this year, the sector’s contribution to GDP is expected to grow 52.4% to more than €347 billion, amounting to 9.6% of the total economic GDP, while employment in the sector is set to grow by 6.9% to reach 5.5 million jobs.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “COVID-19 wreaked havoc on Germany’s travel and tourism, affecting millions of livelihoods and impacting the national economy.
“However, our data provides a positive outlook, that will be provide a massive boost to businesses across Germany as the sector finally begins to recover from the pandemic.”
Before the pandemic, Germany’s travel and tourism sector’s contribution to GDP was 9.8% (€355.3 billion) in 2019, falling to just 6.3% (€217.2 billion) in 2020, representing a staggering 38.9% loss.
The sector also supported nearly 5.9 million jobs, before an almost complete halt to international travel which resulted in a drop of nearly 800,000 (13.5%), to reach just over five million in 2020.
WTTC’s latest EIR report also reveals that 2021 saw the beginning of the recovery for the country’s travel and tourism sector.
Last year, its contribution to GDP climbed 5% year on year, to reach €228 billion.
However, the recovery of jobs was slower with less than 15,000 Travel & Tourism jobs created, to reach nearly 5.1 million.
The sector’s contribution to the economy could have been higher if it weren’t for the impact of the Omicron variant, which led to the recovery faltering around the world, with many countries reinstating travel restrictions.

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