Environment

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The Global Travel Market

COVID-19 has had a major impact on the global economy, bringing international travel to a standstill as countries implement border controls. Taiwan's tourism industry has also faced challenges due to border closures and ongoing industrial transformation.

Overview of the Global Tourism Market

The number of international arrivals fell sharply after the first quarter of 2020 as countries enacted COVID-19 related border controls. In 2020, the number of global international tourist arrivals (overnight stays) fell 73% to 394 million, with the biggest declines in the Asia-Pacific region (-84.2%), followed by the Middle East (-74%), Africa (-73.7%), Europe (-68.9%), and the Americas (-68.8%).

Statistics on International Tourism Markets for Inbound Visitors

volume19 Issue4, Update July 2021, UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

Overview of Asian Tourism Markets

The number of inbound arrivals fell in all of Asia's tourism markets in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Number of Inbound Visitors for Major Asian Tourism Markets in 2020

Arrivals Declining arrivals Increasing arrivals

Taiwan

1,377,861
visitors

88.4%

Hong Kong

3,568,875
visitors

93.6%

South Korea

2,519,118
visitors

85.6%

Japan

4,115,828
visitors

87.1%

Singapore

2,742,443
visitors

85.7%

Malaysia

4,332,722
visitors

83.4%
Source: Japan National Tourist Organization, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Korea Tourism Organization, Singapore Tourism Bureau, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board

Major Visitor Source Markets for Asia in 2020

Growth in Visitor Arrivals to
Hong Kong
Japan
Malaysia
Singapore
South Korea
Taiwan
Source: Japan National Tourist Organization, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Korea Tourism Organ-ization, Singapore Tourism Bureau, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board
Hong Kong
Japan
Malaysia
Singapore
South Korea
Taiwan
Source: Japan National Tourist Organization, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Korea Tourism Organ-ization, Singapore Tourism Bureau, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board