Europe: Still a long way to go to full tourism recovery
Europe's tourism industry hopes for busy post-COVID summer dim as Chinese tourists stay away
Many tour operators are disappointed by lower-than-expected bookings from high-spending Chinese travelers, as Chinese outbound flight bookings to Europe during March - August are only 32% that of pre-pandemic levels, according to travel data firm ForwardKeys.
Key takeaways
- Tour operators are looking to Americans, who, bolstered by a strong dollar, are coming to Europe in droves;
- Some analysts predict transatlantic travel to places like London and Paris could surpass 2019 levels;
- Many tourist operators and retailers hope the second half will bring a relaxation in visa policies, more flights and the long-expected influx of Chinese tourists.
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