A critical look at tourism in the year ahead

10-12-22

A review of travel in 2022 paints a contradictory picture in which optimism about the apparent return to 'normality' after the Covid-19 pandemic is counterbalanced by pessimism about other threats, such as escalating geopolitical tensions and industry challenges. 

A new strain of Covid-19

The emergence of a highly transmissible Covid-19 variant, Omicron, initially caused concern, and governments reintroduced certain travel restrictions to curb its spread. However, as the new strain proved to be less severe than previous ones, restrictions were soon lifted and travel quickly recovered.

The response to Omicron showed that markets and authorities were learning to cope with the pandemic and to adapt to a "new normal". It reflected a general acceptance that society will have to live with Covid-19 for some time, but that, at least in Western markets, the pandemic is no longer a serious obstacle to travel.