The World Tourism Organization (WTO) says that the vaccination of the population against covid-19 and the growing adoption of digital solutions for safe travel is expected to lead to an increase in international mobility in the coming weeks and months.

In the latest report on travel restrictions, published this Monday and with data collected as of June 1, the WTO recalls that 29% of all world destinations have their borders completely closed to international tourism.

Of these, most are small island states in Asia and the Pacific.

On the opposite side, with their borders completely open to tourists, are only Albania, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

There are also 34% of the world destinations that are partially closed and 36% that require a negative PCR result upon arrival and, in some cases, combined with a quarantine before being able to move freely through the country.

In addition, with the emergence of new covid-19 variants, OMT also noted that 42% from all destinations have introduced specific restrictions such as flight suspensions, border closures or mandatory quarantine.

The WTO also identified in the report the link between the speed of inoculation and the relaxation of restrictions. Thus, countries with higher percentages of the inoculated population are in a better position to allow tourism to slowly return, as is the case in Europe, highlights the organization.

Only 13% of European destinations are fully closed, compared to 70% in Asia Pacific, 20% in the Americas, 19% in Africa and 31% in the Middle East.

As for requirements for vaccinated passengers, 17% of the world destinations mentioned still apply restrictions on mobility, even to people with both doses of the vaccine.