For over three decades now, France has been regarded as the most visited country in the world. There, tourists can enjoy various casinos, such as Hellspin Casino as well as attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Palace of Versailles, and the beaches of Cote d’Azur.
The countryside is also full of beautiful villages and mountains, and there are numerous castles and other attractions in France. Paris, the country’s capital, received 38 million tourists in 2019.
One of the most popular countries in Europe is Spain, as it has plenty of interesting things to see and do. Some of these include the Guggenheim Museum, the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, and the beaches of Gran Canaria. Spain also has the El Teide volcano, which is located in Tenerife. This natural feature, which is not entirely dormant, can be explored by hiking around the park.
London, England‘s capital, is famous for its numerous attractions. Some of these include Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. The British Museum is also located in the city. England’s other attractions include Stonehenge, the birthplace of the Beatles, and the gardens of the Eden Project.
The United Kingdom also has multiple subdivisions. First, it has Scotland, which is known for its charming cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as its beautiful scenery and historic golf courses. Then, it has Wales, which is characterized by its castles and quaint towns such as Cardiff.
Northern Ireland has plenty of attractions, such as the Antrim coast and Belfast’s nightlife. It also has the Giant’s Causeway, which is a natural wonder.
Turkey, which is located in the Mediterranean region, features man-made wonders such as the Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia mosque. It also has other natural wonders, such as the Patara and Deniz beaches, Pamukkale’s mineral pools, and the coastline.
The South Asian Country of Thailand, also known as the Land of Smiles, is full of adventure and modern comforts. It has plenty of beautiful beaches and historical sites. Its capital, Bangkok, is also famous for its numerous attractions. Some of these include the Grand Palace, as well as the ancient city of Ayutthaya, and the Buddhist temple of Coi Suthep.
The impact of COVID-19 on travel and tourism
The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 resulted in significant losses to the tourism industry. It was estimated that the pandemic cost the travel and tourism sector an estimated US$4.5 trillion.
In 2020, the tourism industry suffered a 74% decline compared to the previous year. It was estimated that the number of travelers during the year was the lowest on record. According to the UN, the global tourism industry lost over a trillion dollars in revenues. Around hundred-120 million jobs were also lost due to the pandemic.
The pandemic has inflicted significant damage on nations that rely heavily on tourism as a component of their GDP. For instance, Macau, which is a special administrative region of China, suffered a huge decline in gambling revenues in 2020 due to the loss of visitors.
Despite the slight uptick in tourism in 2021, it is still far below the levels before the pandemic. In 2020, some believed that the industry would be able to bounce back by late 2021. However, the pandemic has prevented this prediction from happening. Most experts believe that the tourism industry will not recover until 2023 at the earliest.