Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic

This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (June 2022)

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries and territories imposed quarantines, entry bans, or other travel restrictions for citizens of or recent travelers to the most affected areas.^[1] Some countries and territories imposed global restrictions that apply to all foreign countries and territories, or prevented their own citizens from travelling overseas.^[2]

Travel restrictions reduced the spread of the virus. However, because they were implemented after community transmission had begun in several countries around the globe, they produced only a modest reduction in the total number of infections. Travel restrictions may be most important at the start and end of a pandemic.^[3]

The travel restrictions brought a significant economic cost to the global tourism industry through lost income and social impacts on people who were unable to travel internationally. After travel bans lifted, global tourism saw a return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024.^[4] However, some travel, especially business travel, may decrease in the long-term as lower cost alternatives, such as teleconferencing and virtual events have gained preferrence in the professional world.^[5] Some countries with large domestic markets, such as the United States, were able to see a faster recovery from increased domestic travel.^[6]