by Sophia Khan

Sophia Khan explains how the tourist industry is navigating the new normal.

ST.ART does not recommend travelling until national restrictions allow.

As the last year put a halt on everyone’s travel cravings, the tourism industry came to a standstill. Though less significant to those who only descend upon a white sand beach now and then, it has created a dire situation for many across the globe. Particularly, those who make their livelihood off of tourism.

There have been glimpses of hope for those workers throughout the year, with hotels in Mexico being allowed to open at 30% capacity. On the other hand Canada - home to millions of travellers - banned flights to the most popular sunny destinations and the industry once again collapsed. If you’re wondering how global tourist industries are holding up during the pandemic, read on.

Mexico

Initially, there were rules and protocols imposed on parts of the Mexican tourist industry, with a large COVID-19 infection rate and a slow start to the vaccination process. However, they’re still welcoming tourists from abroad, and you don’t need a negative PCR test to cross the border.

Spain

It isn’t new information that Spain was one of the countries hit hardest by the first wave of the pandemic, and it’s still in recovery. Spain’s tourism minister recently announced that tourism would begin to reopen more fully when 30-40% of their citizens are vaccinated. It will come as no surprise that the Spanish are heavily advocating for a ‘vaccine passport’ to be presented by tourists, both to keep their own citizens safe and those visiting. If you’re planning to return here or explore for the first time, it is probably best to wait until you are vaccinated.

Portugal

Portugal was also hit hard by COVID-19, with the National Post revealing that the number of individuals registered as unemployed has jumped nearly 37%. Other research has found that this is a direct result of the closure of the tourism sector, unsurprising in a country that heavily relies on tourism. It may be a while until the country is able to pick itself back up and re-establish the astronomical number of tourists that were arriving here prior to the pandemic.

Maldives

Tourism is one of the strongest industries in the economy of the Maldives. The country did shut down initially, but was quick to reopen their borders to tourists in July 2020. Besides a negative PCR test needed to enter the country, there aren’t many restrictions holding tourists back from enjoying the sunny spot. Overall, cases in the country were low compared to others, and with hospitality workers included in the first round of their COVID-19 vaccination plan the Maldives remains a viable travel option.

UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi)

Dubai may be one of the most exciting cities to visit in the world, and it attracts the world’s rich and famous for a reason. Throughout the pandemic the UAE was able to maintain a certain level of tourism and their speedy vaccination rate hasn’t hurt in terms of getting back to normal. Though the country is not open to citizens on a designated ‘red list’, a great effort has been made to keep its tourist destinations safe and welcoming.

Some countries have already been able to pick up, brush off, and continue onwards throughout the pandemic. There are others that will need more time, and some that may be recovering for months or even years. One day I hope that the information in this article is history, that restrictions have disappeared, and that we can once again feel the giddiness of vacation preparation and the thrill of arriving in a new place. Until then, let’s live vicariously through old photos and pinterest boards as we wait for better days.

ST.ART does not own the rights to any images used in this article.