The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said last year was the worst on record for the global tourism industry. Perhaps unsurprisingly, with the worst global pandemic for more than 100 years, a billion fewer "arrivals" were recorded in 2020. 

But the comparable scale of the drop in passenger numbers becomes clear when seen in relation to the most recent global dip in passenger numbers – after the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. 

In 2009, global tourist arrival numbers dropped by 4 percent. In 2020, the fall was 74 percent. 

Some regions and monthly figures were even lower. According to Eurostat, the European Union's official statistics organization, arrivals in the EU fell by 95 percent in April 2020. 

While the vaccine drive is helping to revive consumer confidence, it is unclear what the tourism industry will look like by the time people want to – or are allowed to – fly long-haul for holidays again.

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According to UNWTO data, financial losses amounted to around $1.3 trillion, which is 11 times the industry's losses stemming from the 2008 crisis.

That financial squeeze is being passed on to workers, with another UNWTO estimate putting global tourism-linked job losses at more than 100 million, perhaps as high as 120 million. 

The UN body was reticent to share a prediction of when global travel will return to "normal," but UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili pointed to COVID-19 measures that can be used to expedite the return of travelers. 

"Testing, tracing and vaccination certificates are essential foundations to promote safe travel and prepare for the recovery of tourism once conditions allow."

Regional balance

The pandemic has arguably been a unifier for the global tourism and transport sectors. 

UNWTO found the drop in tourist arrivals was steepest in Asia-Pacific, at 84 percent. This is likely due to the stringent restrictions put in place by the likes of Australia and New Zealand, and the usual popularity of Asia as a destination. The fall equates to around 300 million visitors. 

The leanest drop was recorded in the Americas, at 69 percent, likely due to the looser restrictions in countries such as the U.S. and Brazil.