covid-19 restrictions
International Travel Largely on Hold Despite Uptick in May
UNWTO | July 22, 2021
The biggest crisis in the history of tourism continues into a second year. Between January and May, international tourist arrivals were 85% below 2019 levels (or a 65% drop on 2020), UNWTO data shows. Despite a small uptick in May, the emergence of COVID-19 variants and the continued imposition of restrictions are weighing on the recovery of international travel. Meanwhile, domestic tourism continues to rebound in many parts of the world. The latest UNWTO data shows that over the first five months of the year, world destinations recorded 147 million fewer international arrivals (overnight visitors) compared to the same period of 2020, or 460...
U.S. Travel Reacts to State Reopenings from Virus Restrictions
U.S. Travel Association | June 17, 2021
WASHINGTON — June 17, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement: “The lifting of COVID restrictions in several of the largest U.S. states removes critical barriers to the return of our pre-pandemic economy and livelihoods. “States with delayed reopenings must recognize they’re at a competitive disadvantage to those open for business, requiring focused efforts to encourage the safe return of both business and leisure travelers. Similarly, companies that continue to restrict business travel and attendance at in-person professional meetings and events will delay their own economic r...
U.S. Travel Association Reacts to U.K. Placing U.S. on ‘Amber’ List for Travel
U.S. Travel Association | May 10, 2021
WASHINGTON — May 10, 2021 — U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on today’s release of the U.K.’s “traffic light system” for international travel: “The U.K.’s decision to put the United States on their amber status for reopening just isn’t backed by the science. Putting the U.S. on amber status ignores the scientific data regarding increasing vaccination rates, lower infection rates and that the U.S. has the right strategies in place to mitigate risk. “The U.S. needs to demonstrate leadership and come to the table with the U.K. and increase dialogue to allow for a reopeni...
Reaction to President Biden’s Executive Orders on Travel
U.S. Travel Association | January 22, 2021
WASHINGTON (January 22, 2021)—U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued the following statement on the COVID-related executive orders issued by the White House Thursday, many of which pertain to travel: “We welcome the president’s focus on policies that will encourage safe travel and help restore the millions of U.S. travel jobs that were lost last year. “The CDC’s inbound testing requirement is the key to reopening international travel and it adds another important layer of safety. If the testing requirement is going to work on a global scale, it has to be flexible and reflect where testing resources are avai...
Majority of Corporate Travel Programs to Seek Lower Hotel Rates as COVID-19 Restrictions are Lifted
HRS | May 5, 2020
HRS Survey of Travel and Procurement Leaders Finds that 62 Percent See Opportunities for Rate Savings in 2020 and beyond, with 58 Percent Planning to Consolidate Hotel Suppliers COLOGNE, Germany -- May 5, 2020 --HRS today announced the results of its most recent Flash Survey of corporate travel program managers and procurement executives. The global survey, which ran from April 30 through May 4, gives the industry guidance on the delicate balance between hotel suppliers and managed travel programs as the business travel ecosystem looks towards recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings from the survey: 62% of respondents f...
