The variety of nights spent in vacationer lodging within the European Union in 2022 is near pre-pandemic ranges, the bloc’s statistics workplace Eurostat mentioned on Wednesday.
The 27-nation bloc recorded 2.72 billion nights spent in vacationer lodging final yr, simply 5.6% beneath 2019 ranges, earlier than COVID-19 inflicted heavy losses on the tourism trade as a result of closure of borders and confinements.
This quantity is a rise of 91.1% and 48.three% over 2020 and 2021 ranges, respectively. The figures cowl short-term lodging in motels and related institutions, in addition to tenting grounds, RV parks and trailer parks.
SPAIN TOURISM REVENUES ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 5% THIS YEAR COMPARED TO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC
“The sector seems to be making a powerful restoration from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Eurostat mentioned.
Home journey skilled the strongest restoration, already exceeding pre-pandemic ranges by zero.7% to 1.53 billion nights, whereas worldwide tourism was nonetheless 12.6% beneath, at 1.19 billion nights .
Amongst particular person EU states, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium skilled the most important will increase in home and overseas vacationers, surpassing 2019 figures by 12.three%, three.9% and zero.5%, respectively, over these joined by Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway that aren’t members of the EU. .
Latvia and Slovakia have been among the many slowest recovering nations by way of in a single day vacationer numbers in 2022, solely recovering barely above 70% of 2019 ranges.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Trying forward, 2023 “may see worldwide tourism arrivals return to pre-pandemic ranges in Europe and the Center East,” the World Tourism Group (UNWTO) mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday.
The United Nations-led company anticipates the restoration to final by means of 2023, with the latest lifting of COVID-19-related journey restrictions in China and strong demand from the US, supported by a powerful US greenback.
Nevertheless, the UNWTO warns that the unsure financial setting and geopolitical tensions could affect tourism habits, with lowered spending, shorter journeys and native journey.