I REGION I AMERICAS &
I REGION I AMERICAS & CARIBBEAN I Americas MAIN TRAVEL DESTINATIONS ANTIGUA AND BURBUDA ARGENTINA ARUBA BAHAMAS BARBAROS BELIZE BRAZIL BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS CANADA CAYMAN ISLANDS CHILE COLOMBIA COSTA RICA CUBA CURAÇAO DOMINICA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ECUADOR EL SALVADOR GRENADA GUADELOUPE GUATEMALA GUYANA HAITI HONDURAS JAMAICA MARTINIQUE MEXICO NICARAGUA PANAMA PARAGUAY PERU PUERTO RICO SAINT LUCIA SAINT MARTIN SURINAME URUGUAY USA VENEZUELA API BEACH PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC © Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism AMERICAS & CARIBBEAN The impact of the pandemic softened by domestic tourism in the Americas The Americas saw a decline in arrivals last year, although some countries such as Mexico or the Dominican Republic kept a relatively open tourism policy. In large countries (Argentina, Brazil, Canada or the USA), the travel industry was supported by strong domestic tourism activity. According to the UNWTO's initial data for 2020, the Americas recorded a decline of 68.5% in 2020 tourist arrivals. The continent recorded 69.03 million international tourist movements compared to 219.14 million in 2019. Looking on a regional basis, Central and South America were the most affected last year as many countries shut down their borders to international travellers. Central America's total tourist arrivals declined by 74.3% while South America's total dropped by 74.1%. The Caribbean was the least affected with a drop of 66.8% in tourist movements, while North America's total arrivals were down by 67%. The figures were somewhat buoyed by Mexico, which kept its borders open. News circulated a lot over crowded resorts along the Mexican Riviera as many US and Canadian citizens spent their Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays there. International tourist arrivals were down in Mexico by 46.2% last year according to UNWTO. The USA's 2020 tourism season was saved by strong domestic activity. According to the US Travel Association, while international travel and business travel suffered the sharpest declines, with spending down by over 70%. Domestic travel spending was down by "only" 34%. Business travel spending was down by 70% compared to 27% for leisure travel. According to data released by the Bureau of Air Statistics covering the period between December 2019 and November 2020, total passenger departures last year declined by 54.5% to reach 421 million passenger movements. The strength of the US domestic market is visible in the number of road trips of over 50 miles. After reaching a pandemic low of -72% on the seven-day road trip index, the decline was just below 10% by the end of the year. Another indicator is arrivals in Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands. Both count visitors from the USA as international travellers and showed a decline in 2020 of 53% and 36.5% respectively. In the Caribbean, Martinique also managed to contain the drop in tourist arrivals thanks to the French domestic market. Antigua and Cuba saw a decline inferior to 60% while the reopening of the Dominican Republic since September translated into a decline limited to 37% by the end of the year. While the pandemic remains strong in some South American countries, the zone will mostly benefit in 2021 from domestic travel NEWS BRIEFS Canada experienced a drop in international travellers' numbers from 96.8 million travellers in 2019 to 25.9 million in 2020, down 73.2% from one year to another. Travellers from the United States declined by 84.0% to 4.0 million. Regarding domestic tourism, spending was down 40.6% in the first three quarters of 2020 The Dominican Republic is reopen to international tourism since last fall with a quarantine being implemented only for people testing positive to Covid-19. According to a study of ForwardKeys, data shows that the international tourism movements were down by less than 37% at the end of last year US hotels had a difficult year. According to data from consultant STR, hotel occupancy averaged just 44% in 2020 (33% lower than in 2019), and Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) was just (48% lower than in 2019). Both numbers indicate an all-time low in terms of both absolute numbers and declines 12 ITB BERLIN NEWS • FRIDAY 12 TH MARCH 2021 www.itb-berlin-news.com
I REGION I AMERICAS & CARIBBEAN I All paperwork goes electronic for entry into Dominican Republic FLAGSTAFF ANNOUNCES “CITY OF SEVEN WONDERS” TOUR Flagstaff, Arizona offers aweinspiring discoveries of heritage and history at every turn, endless trails to explore, and is only 80 miles from Grand Canyon National Park. Dominican Republic simplifies travel with new electronic ticket portal From April 1, all passengers entering and departing the Dominican Republic will be required to submit digital forms, including health information, through an e-ticket portal. The move has been made in an effort to optimise passenger entry and exit processes in the country, as well as help reduce the spread of Covid-19. The new electronic system combines digital versions of the Traveller’s Health Affidavit, Customs Declaration, and International Boarding/Disembarking forms, in one single digital form. As of April 1, 2021, the use of digital forms will be mandatory. “Since we launched the E-Ticket in November 2020, we have been testing the platform and receiving valuable feedback from passengers who have used it. So far, we have carried out over 500 trainings and have updated and improved the platform to ensure that as of April 1, there won’t be any setbacks,” said David Collado, Dominican Republic Minister of Tourism. The form will ask for general information such as passport number, residence address, and the address of where you will be staying while in the Dominican Republic, as well as general customs information and a traveller’s health affidavit. Passengers will need to fill out a form for arrival and another one for departure and the system will generate two QR codes. Dominican airports have free internet access so that passengers who did not fill out the form before flying can do so when they arrive in the country. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MAKES TOP 20 LIST ON TRIPADVISOR The nation is celebrating the fact that TripAdvisor has named it on the list of the top 20 most popular destinations worldwide in the world 2021. Dominican Republic landed the no. 19 spot with mentions of its white-sand beaches, historic architecture and enticing opportunities for adventurous travellers. “Not only is Dominican Republic replete with natural beauty, pristine beaches and opportunities for off-the-grid exploration, but now more than ever, we are dedicated VISIT BR AND CARD to safe travel. We continue to implement additional, worldclass protocols to ensure travel throughout the country remains safe for international tourists and hospitality workers, and it’s an honour to be recognised on such a global platform as a leading 2021 destination,” said David Collado, Dominican Republic Minister of Tourisml The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism is present at ITB Berlin NOW with its Brand Card, where Trade visitors can get important information and updates about the destination’s efforts to reactivate tourism on site, and get an overview over the current and future non-stop flight connections from Germany (Condor and Lufthansa) and Switzerland (Edelweiss). Adventurous travellers could do well to make Flagstaff their basecamp with the “City of Seven Wonders” tour: Grand Canyon National Park, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, Oak Creek Canyon, the San Francisco Peaks, and Coconino National Forest. Visitors can Trek the Lava Flow Trail at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument to learn about history and geology while viewing the impacts of a volcanic eruption 900 years ago. Did you know that this area was the training site for Apollo astronauts in preparation for the 1969 moon landing? Wupatki National Monument features 800-year-old pueblos that dot the desert landscape and represent cultural crossroads. One can hike the Island Trail at Walnut Canyon National Monument to gaze upon curved canyon walls and venture into cliff dwellings from ancient Sinagua inhabitants. A somewhat easier route, the spectacular Rim Trail gives a bird’s eye view. Flagstaff is the world’s top dark sky city, showcasing magnificent, clear-sky stargazing opportunities. It is also home to Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered more than 70 years ago. Flagstaff’s storied history and culture on uncrowded trails provide solitude, easy social distancing, and outstanding viewsl Wupatki National Monument with San Francisco Peaks in background near Flagstaff, Arizona. VISIT BR AND CARD ITB BERLIN NEWS • FRIDAY 12 TH MARCH 2021 13
