Tourism continues to suffer profound damages due to the COVID-19 situation that led governments to impose travel bans and entry restrictions in order to stop the spread of the virus. Besides, since the start of the pandemic, many countries temporarily suspended all non-essential travel that also includes travel for tourism purposes.
Due to the COVID-19, Europe’s Travel and Tourism industry suffered a 51.4 per cent decline (€987 BN) last year, based on the Economic Trends Report published previously by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
The same report revealed that the domestic spending in Europe marked a 48.4 per cent decrease, while international spending declined by 63.8 per cent. Besides, last year, a total of 3.6 million people engaged in the travel and tourism sector were left jobless and in a difficult situation.
However, here are the most visited countries in Europe, according to UNWTO:
France
France is the most visited country, not only in Europe but also globally, with a total of 89.4 million visitors in 2018, based on UNWTO figures.
Due to the COVID-19 situation, authorities in France last year imposed entry bans and other restrictions, which also contributed to the devastating situation caused in the country’s tourism sector; however, on June 9, the country opened its doors to vaccinated travellers from 38 countries, including travellers from 26 EU countries.
Spain
According to the UNWTO report, with a total of 82.8 million visitors in 2018, Spain is the second most visited country in Europe.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected Spain as well. After keeping strict entry measures in place due to the COVID-19 situation, Spain recently announced that it would permit entry for a passenger from most EU and Schengen Zone countries, quarantine-free if they come from territories with low COVID-19 infection rates.
Third-country travellers are also permitted to enter Spain for tourism purposes, provided that they have been fully immunized against the virus.
Italy
Italy is the third most visited country in Europe. It welcomed a total of 52.4 million visitors in 2016 and another 58.3 million visitors in 2017, while in 2018, the country saw 61.6 million visitors.
After keeping its border closed due to the Coronavirus, the country decided to reopen its borders in January 2021, allowing entry for the following European countries; Austria, Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Germany
According to UNWTO, a total of 37.5 million travellers visited Germany in 2017, while in 2018; the country welcomed 38.9 million visitors.
Such figures contributed to rank this country in fourth place.
