COVID-19 Related Travel Restrictions – A Global Review for Tourism

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

COVID - 19COVID - 19

RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONSRELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISMA GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

First report as of 16 April 2020First report as of 16 April 2020

Prepared by

UNWTO UNWTO

Sustainable Development of Tourism Department

COVID - 19COVID - 19

RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONSRELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISMA GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

First report as of 16 April 2020First report as of 16 April 2020

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments

This

interim report COVID-19 related Travel Restrictions – A Global Review for Tourism

was developed by the

World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Sustainable Development of Tourism Department. The report was

prepared under the supervision of Dr. Dirk Glaesser with lead contributions from Lorna Hartantyo, Marianna

Stori and Cordula Wohlmuther. Virginia Fernández-Trapa reviewed and provided thorough feedback to the

report.

Comments on the draft of this report were provided by Sandra Carvao, Orianne Derrier, Hernán Epstein,

Harry Hwang, Beka Jakeli and Merjen Meretgulyyeva. Layout of the cover was provided by Alberto G. Uceda

and layout of the report by Javier P. Spuch.

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

Key Facts ........................................................................................................................................................................................................2

Summary of Findings ...............................................................................................................................................................................3

1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................................8

2. Background on COVID-19 and pandemic measures ............................................................................................................9

3. Implementation of travel restrictions during COVID-19 outbreak until 6 April 2020 .........................................10

4. Evolution of travel restrictions by region .................................................................................................................................11

5. Regional breakdown of destinations with travel restrictions .........................................................................................14

6. Categories of travel restrictions ...................................................................................................................................................15

Annex .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 18

Table of FiguresTable of Figures

Figure 1 - Number of confirmed cases and destinations with COVID-19 related travel restrictions ................10

Figure 2 - Destinations with travel restrictions as of 9 March 2020 ................................................................................11

Figure 3 - Destinations with travel restrictions as of 16 March 2020 ............................................................................... 12

Figure 4 - Destinations with travel restrictions as of 24 March 2020 ..............................................................................12

Figure 5 - Destinations with travel restrictions as of 6 April 2020 ....................................................................................13

Figure 6 - Global and regional breakdown of destinations with travel restrictions ................................................. 14

Figure 7 - Changes in type of travel restriction over time ....................................................................................................15

Figure 8 - Type of travel restriction by destination as of 6 of April .................................................................................16

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

• As of 6 April 2020, 96% of all world As of 6 April 2020, 96% of all world

destinations have travel restrictions. destinations have travel restrictions.

•

This means that 209 DESTINATIONS This means that 209 DESTINATIONS

WORLDWIDE ADOPTED COVID-19 RELATED WORLDWIDE ADOPTED COVID-19 RELATED

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS.TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS.

Percentage of all destinations per region:

100% OF AFRICA

100% OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

100% OF MIDDLE EAST

93% OF EUROPE

92% OF AMERICAS

• About

90 destinations have completely 90 destinations have completely

or partially closed their borders for or partially closed their borders for

touriststourists, while another 44 destinations are 44 destinations are

implementing the closing of borders in a more implementing the closing of borders in a more

differentiated mannerdifferentiated manner by identifying specific

countries of origin.

•

4 DOMINATING CATEGORIES OF TRAVEL 4 DOMINATING CATEGORIES OF TRAVEL

RESTRICTIVE MEASURES are currently applied: RESTRICTIVE MEASURES are currently applied:

1. Complete or partial closure of border -

“Passengers are not allowed to enter”.

2. Destination-specific travel restriction -

“Passengers who have transited or been in

x are not allowed to enter”.

3. Suspension of flights, all or partially - “all

flights are suspended”.

4. Different measures: Quarantine or self-

isolation, Visa measures, Travel bans to pas-

sengers coming from certain regions within

a destination, or passengers with specific

nationalities, Medical certificate requested

upon arrival.

•

NO DESTINATION HAS LIFTED a TRAVEL NO DESTINATION HAS LIFTED a TRAVEL

RESTRICTION as of 6 April 2020.RESTRICTION as of 6 April 2020.

Key FactsKey Facts

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

1) Volume and severity of travel 1) Volume and severity of travel

restrictions under COVID-19 crisis is restrictions under COVID-19 crisis is

unprecedentedunprecedented

The current COVID-19 crisis has impacted on travel

like no other event in history before. Almost all

destinations in the world have imposed travel

restrictions since January 2020, including very

severe measures such as the banning of all travel in

some destinations.

UNWTO has been monitoring travel restrictions

and facilitation measures for several years.

UNWTO’s regularly published Visa Openness

reports

have shown a continuously growing

trend for more than a decade, on the number of

destinations facilitating visa policies for temporary

visitors (tourists). When reporting last in 2018, the

world openness reached its highest level ever, with

an openness of 37 index points.

2) Currently 96% of all world 2) Currently 96% of all world

destinations have travel restrictions destinations have travel restrictions

Within less than 10 weeks, between the end of

January 2020 and 6 April 2020, 209 destinations

have implemented measures, restricting travel in

reaction to the COVID-19 outbreak. This amounts

to 96 % of all destinations worldwide.

As of 6 April 2020, 90 destinations have completely

or partially closed their borders for tourists, while

another 44 destinations are implementing the

closing of borders in a more differentiated manner

by referring to countries of origin, such as China,

Republic of Korea, Iran, Italy or European Union or

others, from where travellers are not allowed to

enter the destination.

Summary of FindingsSummary of Findings

Source: Data compiled by UNWTO

1 World Tourism Organization, Travel Facilitation reports are available online at: www.unwto.org/sustainable-development/travel-facilitation.

2 The Openness Index ranges from 0 – 100 and is calculated by summing the percentage of the world population affected by no visa weighted by 1, visa on arrival

weighted by 0.7, eVisa by 0.5 and traditional visa weighted by 0.

3 The maps elaborated by UNWTO are for reference only and do not imply any judgement on the legal status of any territory, or any endorsement or acceptance of

such boundaries.

Figure A - Destinations with travel restrictions as of 6 April 2020

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

Looking at regional trends in the five UNWTO

regions, all the destinations (100%) in the regions

of Africa, Asia and the Pacific, as well as the Middle

East have implemented travel restrictions, while

in the European region 93% and in the Americas

92% of destinations have implemented travel

restrictions.

Figure B - Travel restrictions have expanded

geographically as the number of conﬁrmed cases

grows

Source: Data compiled by UNWTO as of 6 April 2020.

3) Travel restrictions have expanded 3) Travel restrictions have expanded

geographically as the number of geographically as the number of

confirmed cases growsconfirmed cases grows

By mid-February 2020, only two weeks after

COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency

of International Concern (PHEIC), a total of 62

destinations had implemented travel restrictions.

Out of those destinations, more than half were

from Asia and the Pacific region.

In the following weeks and with the spread of

COVID-19 to additional countries, gradually

destinations in other regions joined in restricting

the entry of tourists.

A significant increase was observed between 9 and

24 March 2020, when the number of destinations

imposing travel restrictions more than doubled,

from 81 to 181, following the declaration of COVID-19

as a Pandemic by WHO on 11 March 2020.

Source: UNWTO SDT, based on desk research from IATA Travel Centre, WHO Extranet and International SOS.

Figure C - Number of conﬁrmed cases and destinations with COVID-19-related travel restrictions

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

Figure D - Category of travel restriction by destination with COVID-19 travel restrictions

Source: Data compiled by UNWTO as of 6 April 2020.

4) Travel restrictions affecting tourists 4) Travel restrictions affecting tourists

can be grouped in four broad can be grouped in four broad

categoriescategories

As of 6 April 2020, there are four broad categories

of travel restrictions under implementation in 209

destinations as shown in the figures below.

1. About 43% (90 destinations) have completely or partially have completely or partially

closed their borders. closed their borders.

2. About 21% (44 destinations) have introduced travel bans to travel bans to

passengers coming from certain destinations that have been passengers coming from certain destinations that have been

affected by COVID-19.affected by COVID-19.

3. About 27% (56 destinations) have suspended all or partially suspended all or partially

international flights into the destination. international flights into the destination.

4. The remaining 9% of destinations with travel restrictions

are implementing different measuresdifferent measures such as: i) requesting

immediate self-isolation or quarantine for usually 14 days

after entering a destination; ii) invalidation of visa or no more

issuance of visa upon arrival; iii) travel bans to passengers

coming from certain regions; iv) requesting medical certificates

from the passengers arriving at the border with the negative

results of COVID-19.

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

Figure F - Type of travel restriction by destination with COVID-19 travel restrictions

Source: Data compiled by UNWTO as of 6 April 2020.

Figure E - Changes in type of travel restriction over time

Note: Different measures include:

Visa: includes the invalidation of visa, destinations are no longer visa

exempt or visa cannot be obtained upon arrival any longer.

Regional: travel restriction directed at a region (sub-national) within

a country, and not the whole country as such

Nationality: directed at a nationality

Quarantine: quarantine or self-isolation requirement

Note: Due to roundings, aggregates do not necessarily add to 100.

Source: Data compiled by UNWTO.

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

5) Declaration of COVID-19 as a 5) Declaration of COVID-19 as a

Pandemic led to a significant increase Pandemic led to a significant increase

in number and scope of travel in number and scope of travel

restrictions restrictions

After COVID-19 was declared a pandemic on 11

March 2020, the majority of new destinations

introducing travel restrictions have used the same

categories as other destinations before them,

in particular the complete or partial closure

of borders and suspension of flights. These

two categories had not been in use before the

declaration of the pandemic.

6) Destinations are applying more 6) Destinations are applying more

differentiated measures differentiated measures

Since the end of January 2020 to 6 April 2020,

about 40 destinations have adjusted their travel

restrictions. These adjustments have been

observed more frequently since the week of 24

March 2020. Authorities started as from then to

become stricter in their approaches, limiting travel

and the closing of borders even further.

7) Lifting of travel restrictions have not 7) Lifting of travel restrictions have not

taken place so fartaken place so far

As of 6 April 2020, no destination has lifted a travel

restriction introduced in the context of COVID-19.

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

The overall purpose of this interim report is to

provide information on the implementation of

travel restrictions by governments as one of

the means to address the global health crisis

of COVID-19. It shall help to better understand

the overall process, from the issuing of travel

restrictions and their evolution over time to their

date of lifting, including references to the different

categories of applied restrictions among other

details.

This interim report will be updated on a regular

basis to support mitigation and recovery efforts

of the tourism sector as well as to identify critical

issues and best practices for the future. The report

intends to assist governments in their preparation

for the recovery of the tourism sector as well as to

enhance consistency in their measures and related

communications. At the same time, the report aims

to enhance the understanding of the international

community of the importance of travel facilitation

and the concept of seamless travel.

This report is based on desk research carried out

from end of January 2020 until 6 April 2020 and

is based on the results of monitoring all travel

restrictions that have been implemented during

this period through the review of official websites

that provide information on travel restrictions,

in particular the International Air Transport

Association (IATA) Travel Centre

and the World

Health Organization (WHO) Extranet, as well as

the International SOS travel restrictions data

contributing to the online platform of the World

Food Programme on global travel restrictions

The research includes the analysis of different

categories of travel restrictions, as well as their

respective evolution into more differentiated

and elaborated measures, and the timing of their

implementation and/or lifting. The monitoring of

travel restrictions is carried out from the standpoint

of travel facilitation for tourism purposes (i.e.

focusing on temporary visitors/tourists) and does

not take into account measures that are directed

to residents, diplomats and other categories of

travellers. In addition, this report does neither

take into account travel advisories issued by

governments for their respective citizens.

This work is carried out by the World Tourism

Organization (UNWTO) Sustainable Development

of Tourism Department (SDT) that,

inter alia

monitors visa policies around the world since 2008

and produces the Visa Openness Reports, which

focus on entry requirements for tourism purposes.

In general, visa policies are among the most

important governmental formalities influencing

international tourism with the aim to i) ensure

security, ii) control immigration and limit the

entry, iii) generate revenue and apply measures of

reciprocity, and iv) ensure a destinations’ carrying

capacity and control tourism demand.

At present, the implementation of travel

restrictions within the framework of the COVID-19

crisis, based on serious health considerations as

highlighted by WHO, is going beyond visa policies,

as it includes in many cases the unprecedented

complete closure of borders. As such, drawing

lessons from the past have become challenging

and the subsequent socio-economic impacts of

these measures are still to be seen.

1. Introduction 1. Introduction

4 IATA Travel Centre, available online at: www.iatatravelcentre.com.

5 International SOS is a medical and travel security services company, for more info on Travel re-strictions, flight operations and screening see: https://pandemic.

internationalsos.com/2019-ncov/ncov-travel-restrictions-flight-operations-and-screening.

6 World Tourism Organization, Travel Facilitation reports 2018 and 2019 available online at: www.unwto.org/sustainable-development/travel-facilitation.

7 World Tourism Organization (2019), 2019 Visa Openness Report for Africa, p.6, UNWTO, Madrid, DOI: https://doi.org/10.18111/9789284421039.

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

On 31 December 2019 a pneumonia of unknown cause

was detected first in Wuhan, China and reported

to the local WHO office. Four weeks later, on 30

January 2020 the WHO declared the outbreak of

this virus, initially named 2019-nCoV, a Public Health

Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). At that

stage WHO referred to 83 cases in 18 countries

and

did not recommend any travel or trade restriction.

In a joint statement by UNWTO and WHO released

on 26 February 2020, it was indicated that “Tourism’s

response needs to be measured and consistent,

proportionate to the public health threat and based

on local risk assessment, involving every part of the

tourism value chain”.

While from end of December 2019 until end of

February 2020 China reported the largest amount

of COVID-19 cases, by February 2020 the virus had

already spread almost all over the globe. When

WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic on 11 March

2020, 114 countries had reported 118,000 cases with

Europe becoming the worst-affected region. As of 6

April 2020, there are worldwide reported 1,210,956

COVID-19 cases with 67,594 deaths.

Based on the WHO Pandemic Influenza Preparedness

and Response guidance document for governments

a variety of measures have been implemented

worldwide in order to reduce the spread of the

virus. These include individual measures, such as

the promotion of hand and respiratory hygiene, as

well as societal level measures, such as protocols

related to social distancing which include the

suspension of school classes, adjusting work

patterns, the reduction of unnecessary travel and

overcrowding of mass transport systems as well as

the development of frameworks for cancellation/

restriction of mass gatherings.

Moreover, with

regards to international travel, measures to “develop

capacities for emergency public health actions

at designated points of entry in accordance with

International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) Annex

1 B.2.”, which include relevant control mechanisms

for arriving and departing travellers, have been

implemented.

Furthermore, additional provisions of the IHR

have guided the introduction of measures. For

instance, under Chapter III on special provisions

for travellers, the treatment of suspected travellers

when entering a destination is outlined, ranging

from medical examination to providing the person

with food and water.

Also under IHR Article 43, it

is stated that additional health measures shall be

based on scientific principles, available scientific

evidence and available specific guidance of WHO.

In this context, the implementation of additional

health measures that significantly interfere with

international traffic, shall be reported to WHO

within 48 hours, including the public health rationale

and relevant scientific information. Significant

interference means “refusal of entry or departure of

international travellers, baggage, cargo, containers,

conveyances, good, and the like, or their delay, for

more than 24 hours”. The IHR stipulates that WHO

shall share this information with other governments

and request that the measure is reviewed within

three months. Furthermore, WHO may request a

government that implemented such measure to

reconsider its application.

2. Background on COVID-19 and 2. Background on COVID-19 and

pandemic measurespandemic measures

8 World Health Organization (2020),

Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak

of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV),

30 January 2020, available online at: www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-

international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov).

9 World Tourism Organization, World Health Organization (2020),

Joint statement on tourism and covid-19: UNWTO and WHO call for responsibility and coordination

26 February 2020, available online at: https://webunwto.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2020-03/31012020%20Coronavirus_Feb_2020%20EN_3.pdf.

10 World Health Organization, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Situation report 69, available online at: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/

situation-reports/20200406-sitrep-77-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=21d1e632_2.

11 International Health Regulations (2005), Third Edition, WHO, pp. 40-42, available online at: www.who.int/ihr/publications/9789241580496/en.

12 International Health Regulations (2005).

13 International Health Regulations (2005).

14 International Health Regulations (2005), pp. 23-24.

15 International Health Regulations (2005), pp. 29.

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

When WHO declared on 30 January 2020 COVID-19

a PHEIC, 11 destinations had already implemented

travel restrictions directed at travellers coming

from China and prohibiting their entry into the

destination. Six days later, on 5 February 2020,

this number had grown four times and reached

40 destinations. Within another 5 days, on 10

February 2020, the number of destinations with

travel restrictions had grown to 56. By then, 24

destinations worldwide had reported confirmed

cases of COVID-19.

With the spread of COVID-19 cases to an increasing

number of countries, the number of travel restrictions

had also grown. On 11 March 2020, when WHO

declared COVID-19 a pandemic, a total of 85

destinations had already implemented travel

restrictions. The declaration of the pandemic

triggered a new wave of governmental measures

and within two weeks the number of destinations

with restrictions more than doubled, from 85 to

181 destinations, by 24 March 2020, an increase

of 112%. From 24 March to 6 April another 28

destinations followed and amount now to a total

of 209 destinations.

3. Implementation of travel 3. Implementation of travel

restrictions during COVID-19 restrictions during COVID-19

outbreak until 6 April 2020outbreak until 6 April 2020

Figure 1 - Number of conﬁrmed cases and destinations with COVID-19 related travel restrictions

Source: UNWTO, based on desk research from IATA Travel Centre, WHO Extranet and International SOS.

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

During the first weeks of the global health crisis,

mostly destinations of Asia and the Pacific region

started implementing travel restrictions. On 7

February 2020, 60% of the 52 destinations having

implemented restrictions were from this region,

followed by the Americas (17%), Europe (13%),

Middle East (6%) and Africa (4%).

Four weeks later, by 9 March 2020 (Figure 2), out

of the 81 destinations worldwide with travel

restrictions, 36 destinations (44%) were from the

Asia and the Pacific region. In the Americas, 15

destinations had introduced travel restrictions

(19%) and in Europe 12 destinations (15%), followed

by Africa and the Middle East with each amounting

to 9 destinations with travel restrictions (both

combined making 11% of the overall number of

destinations with restrictions).

4. Evolution of travel 4. Evolution of travel

restrictions by regionrestrictions by region

16 Regions in this report follow UNWTO’s geographical distribution of Member States

Figure 2 - Destinations with travel restrictions as of 9 March 2020

Source: Data compiled by UNWTO.

Between 9 and 16 March 2020, an additional 38

destinations, the majority of those (20) from the

Europe implemented travel restrictions, bringing

the total to 119 destinations.

During this period travel measures of closing

borders were implemented for the first time. As of

16 March, out of 119 destinations, 22 destinations

(19%) were using the closing of borders for the

first time, while still 72 destinations (61%) were

using the Destination-specific travel restrictions

travel restrictions, followed by other categories of

measures.

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

As of 24 March 2020 (Figure 4), a total of 181

destinations worldwide had implemented travel

restrictions. Out of this total, 48 destinations

were from Europe (27%), followed by Asia and the

Pacific and Africa, each with 42 destinations (23%),

the Americas with 37 destinations (20%) and the

Middle East with 12 destinations (7%).

Figure 3 - Destinations with travel restrictions as of 16 March 2020

Source: Data compiled by UNWTO. Asia and the Pacific: 39 (33%), Americas: 26 (22%), Europe: 32 (26%), Africa: 12 (12%), Middle East: 10 (8%).

Source: Data compiled by UNWTO.

Figure 4 - Destinations with travel restrictions as of 24 March 2020

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

As of 6 April 2020 (Figure 5), an additional 28

destinations introduced travel restrictions, bringing

the world total to 209: Africa increasing by 11

destinations (amounting to 53 destinations, 25%),

the Americas increasing by 10 (amounting to 47

destinations, 22%), Asia and the Pacific increasing

by 4 (amounting to 46 destinations, 22%), Europe

increasing by 2 (amounting to 50, 24%) and the

Middle East increasing by 1 (amounting to 13, 6%).

Source: Data compiled by UNWTO.

Figure 5 - Destinations with travel restrictions as of 6 April 2020

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

At this stage, in three of the five UNWTO regions,

all destinations (100%) have implemented travel

restrictions (Africa, Asia and the Pacific and the

Middle East), in Europe 93% and in the Americas 92%.

5. Regional breakdown of 5. Regional breakdown of

destinations with travel destinations with travel

restrictions restrictions

Source: Data compiled by UNWTO.

Figure 6 - Global and regional breakdown of destinations with travel restrictions

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

At the beginning of the crisis two main categories

of travel restrictions were applied, one directed

at passengers coming from a country that had

confirmed cases and the other one being the

invalidation or suspension of visa issuances.

Over time additional measures were observed,

such as the request for medical certificates upon

arrival at a destination or the request for self-

isolation or quarantine.

Once WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, two

new, more extreme categories of travel restrictions

started to be applied, namely the complete and

partial closure of borders and suspension of flights

by governments.

6. Categories of travel 6. Categories of travel

restrictionsrestrictions

The last two categories introduced are, at the

current date, the more commonly implemented

by destinations and both increased in use in the

last 30 days.

a) Destination-specific travel restriction travel a) Destination-specific travel restriction travel

restrictions aimed at passengers from specific restrictions aimed at passengers from specific

countries - “Passengers who have transited or countries - “Passengers who have transited or

been in x are not allowed to enter x”been in x are not allowed to enter x”

Between mid of January and end of February

2020 the most common category of travel

restriction was “

Passengers, who have transited

or been in China or another country with

confirmed cases in the last 14 days will not be

allowed to transit or enter destination x

”.

Figure 7 - Changes in type of travel restriction over time

Note: Different measures include:

Visa: includes the invalidation of visa, destinations are no longer visa exempt,or visa cannot be obtained upon arrival any longer.

Regional: regional (sub-national) specific travel restriction within a country.

Nationality: nationality directed.

Quarantine: quarantine or self-isolation requirement.

Note: Due to roundings, aggregates do not necessarily add to 100. Source: Data compiled by UNWTO.

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

Over time, this category of travel restrictions

was used by a growing number of destinations.

As countries with reported cases of COVID-19

increased, not only passengers who transited or

travelled to China were restricted, but also those

who transited or travelled to the Republic of

Korea, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore and Thailand and

later on to Europe and sometimes Schengen area.

After 16 March 2020, the number of destinations

implementing this type of restriction ceased

to increase as new categories of measures

emerged, namely the complete closure of

borders, as well as the suspension of flights.

Between 24 March and 6 April, the number of

destinations applying this category decreased

further from 56 (31%) on 24 March to 44 (21%)

destinations as of 6 April.

b) Overall or partial closing of borders - “Passen-b) Overall or partial closing of borders - “Passen-

gers are not allowed to enter”gers are not allowed to enter”

This category was observed for the first time

mid-March 2020, with 22 destinations applying

these restrictions by 16 March. By 24 March, the

number of destinations increased to 69 and by

6 April further to 90 destinations, making it

the currently most often applied category of

measures (43% of all destinations worldwide).

c) Suspension of Flights - partially or totally - c) Suspension of Flights - partially or totally -

“All flights are suspended”“All flights are suspended”

The suspension of flights was also observed

for the first time as of mid-March. By 24

March, already 32 destinations suspended all

flights, by 6 April 56 destinations (27% of all

destinations worldwide).

Source: Data compiled by UNWTO as of 6 April 2020.

Figure 8 - Type of travel restriction by destination as of 6 of April

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

d) Regional (sub-national) specific travel restric-d) Regional (sub-national) specific travel restric-

tion within a country - “Passengers who reside tion within a country - “Passengers who reside

or visitors who have been in region x of a des-or visitors who have been in region x of a des-

tination x in the past 14 days are not allowed tination x in the past 14 days are not allowed

to enter destination x”to enter destination x”

Only a small number of destinations

made specific reference to regions within

affected countries for which they applied

travel restrictions rather than addressing

an entire country (e.g. Hubei province,

Cheongdo County and Daegu City, Emilia-

Romagna, Lombardy or Veneto). With the

development of the pandemic, this measure

has lost importance and by 6 April, only to

2 destinations are making still use of this

measure (1% of all destinations worldwide).

e) Visa measures - “Visa is invalidated” or “no e) Visa measures - “Visa is invalidated” or “no

longer visa exempt” or “visa cannot be obtai-longer visa exempt” or “visa cannot be obtai-

ned any longer upon arrival” ned any longer upon arrival”

Introduced at a later stage, only 6 destinations

are applying currently this measure as of 6

April (3% of all destinations worldwide).

f) Quarantine-related and medical certificate f) Quarantine-related and medical certificate

related travel restrictions - Passengers who related travel restrictions - Passengers who

have been in destination x are subject to qua-have been in destination x are subject to qua-

rantine for 14 days or Passengers who have rantine for 14 days or Passengers who have

been in destinations x in the past 14 days must been in destinations x in the past 14 days must

bring a medical certificatebring a medical certificate

Observed since the beginning, this category of

travel restrictions is applied by 10 destinations

as of 6 April (5% of all destinations worldwide).

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

Overview on the different Overview on the different

categories and applying categories and applying

destinations as of 6 April 2020destinations as of 6 April 2020

1717

Overall or partial closing of borders - Overall or partial closing of borders -

“Passengers are not allowed to enter x”“Passengers are not allowed to enter x”

Applied by 90 destinations (43% of all destinations Applied by 90 destinations (43% of all destinations

worldwide).worldwide).

Algeria, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Azerbaijan,

Bahamas, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil,

Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cayman

Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,

China, Taiwan Province of China, Colombia, Congo

(DR), Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba,

Curaçao, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Ecuador,

El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia,

Fiji, French Guinea, French Polynesia, Georgia,

Guatemala, Guinea Bissau, Honduras, Indonesia,

Israel, Kazakhstan, Korea DPR, Latvia, Lesotho,

Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Marshall

Islands, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia,

Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat,

Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Niger, North

Macedonia, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland,

Qatar, Reunion, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San

Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore,

Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, St. Maarten,

Suriname, Switzerland, Togo, Tuvalu, Ukraine,

Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.

Destination-specific travel restrictions travel Destination-specific travel restrictions travel

restrictions aimed at passengers from specific restrictions aimed at passengers from specific

countries - “Passengers who have transited or countries - “Passengers who have transited or

been in x are not allowed to enter x”been in x are not allowed to enter x”

Applied by 44 destinations (21% of all destinations Applied by 44 destinations (21% of all destinations

worldwide).worldwide).

Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Austria,

Bahrain, Belgium, Belize, Bonaire, Botswana,

Bulgaria, Cambodia, Croatia, Eswatini, Finland,

France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Grenada,

Haiti, Hong Kong SAR, Iceland, Japan, Maldives,

Nauru, Netherlands, Niue, Norway, Palau, Papua

New Guinea, Philippines, Romania, Saba, Samoa,

Somalia, St. Eustatius, St. Vincent and Grenadines,

Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Timor Leste, Tonga,

Tunisia, Turkey, United States of America.

AnnexAnnex

17 Some destinations apply more than one measure, in this case the measure affecting tourists most is taken into account.

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM

Suspension of Flights - partially or totally - Suspension of Flights - partially or totally -

“All flights are suspended”“All flights are suspended”

Applied by 56 destinations (27% of all destinations Applied by 56 destinations (27% of all destinations

worldwide).worldwide).

Afghanistan, Albania, Anguilla, Bermuda, Burundi,

Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Comoros Islands, Congo,

Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt,

Gambia, Ghana, Guinea (Rep.), Guyana, Hungary,

India, Iraq, Kenia, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,

Lebanon, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Malta,

Mauritania, Morocco, Nepal, New Caledonia,

Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Portugal, Sao

Tomé and Principe, Senegal, South Africa, South

Sudan, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Sudan,

Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Turks

and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Arab Emirates,

Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Virgin Islands British,

Yemen.

Quarantine or self-isolation related measures Quarantine or self-isolation related measures

Applied by 10 destinations (5% of all destinations Applied by 10 destinations (5% of all destinations

worldwide).worldwide).

Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Ethiopia, Ireland, Italy,

Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Zambia.

Visa measures - Visa are invalidated or no Visa measures - Visa are invalidated or no

longer visa exempt or visa cannot be obtained longer visa exempt or visa cannot be obtained

any longer upon arrival any longer upon arrival

Applied by 6 destinations (3% of all destinations Applied by 6 destinations (3% of all destinations

worldwide). worldwide).

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, Laos, Malawi, Myanmar.

Regional (sub-national) specific travel Regional (sub-national) specific travel

restriction within a country - “Passengers who restriction within a country - “Passengers who

reside or visitors who have been in region x reside or visitors who have been in region x

of a destination x in the past 14 days are not of a destination x in the past 14 days are not

allowed to enter destination x”allowed to enter destination x”

Applied by 2 destinations (1% of all destinations Applied by 2 destinations (1% of all destinations

worldwide).worldwide).

Republic of Korea, Macao SAR.

Medical certificate before arrival Medical certificate before arrival

Applied by 1 destination (1% of all destinations Applied by 1 destination (1% of all destinations

worldwide).worldwide).

Slovenia.

COVID-19 RELATED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – A GLOBAL REVIEW FOR TOURISM