A total of 25 markets representing 38% of 2019 international demand are now open without these restrictions, compared to 18 in February. In addition, 38 of the 50 are open with a testing requirement, compared to 28 last month.
Iata’s top 50 represented 88% of international demand in 2019. The organisation said its research highlighted stark regional differences, with only six of Asia Pacific’s top 16 markets open to travellers without quarantine.
Iata said: “Travel in Asia remains heavily compromised by Covid restrictions. While North American and European international traffic rebounded to -42% of their 2019 peaks last year, traffic in Asia Pacific remained at -88%.
“Even in this region, however, there has been some progress, with India and Malaysia among the countries recently announcing relaxation of restrictions.”
Willie Walsh, Iata director general added: “The world is largely open for travel. As population immunity grows, more governments are managing Covid-19 through surveillance, as they do for other endemic viruses.
“That is great news for a growing number of destinations that will receive a much-needed economic boost from the upcoming Easter and Northern Summer travel seasons.
"Asia is the outlier. Hopefully, recent relaxations including Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the Philippines are paving the way towards restoring the freedom to travel that is more broadly enjoyed in other parts of the world.”
