Year in Review
Introduction
Almost three years on from the news that a mystery virus was spreading rapidly in Wuhan – named in February 2020 as COVID-19 – much of the world has made a return to normality. That began haltingly at first in Q1 2022, as some states eased restrictions on their citizens and then on travel, followed by an acceleration of opening up through mid-year and beyond.
As 2022 draws to a close, the picture for our sector, at least in terms of border openings and connectivity, is brighter than it has been since that period of darkness began around 36 months ago. That perspective has been reinforced by the dramatic developments in China (including its Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau) in recent days with both outbound and cross-border travel set to restart in coming days, much earlier than almost any travel sector pundit had predicted.
Airports Council International (ACI) World said recently that global passenger traffic this year is expected to reach 6.8 billion, or 74.4% of 2019 traffic levels. Even that figure appeared unlikely a year ago, as the impact of the Omicron variant forced a renewed shutdown of airport traffic from November 2021.
As we stand today, the recovery trajectory is broadly a positive one. Global domestic passenger traffic, says ACI, is expected to reach its 2019 level in late 2023. International passenger traffic will require almost one more year to recover and will reach its 2019 high only in the second half of 2024.
The Moodie Davitt Report’s best read stories of 2022
We bring you the list of the ten best-read news items from travel retail’s most popular home page, www.moodiedavittreport.com, from 1 January to 29 December. The stories and their headlines reflect the lingering impact and continuing concern over the pandemic, but also the wave of investment and significant openings that characterised the later part of the year.
COVID outbreak in Hainan prompts temporary closure of CDF Mall, HTDF and CNSC stores in Sanya
A new wonder of the airport world: On location as Hamad International Airport unveils The Orchard
Dufry and Autogrill combine to “redefine travel experience globally”
Interview: Collinson Joint CEO David Evans on global travel recovery
Frankfurt Airport develops new pop-up retail model to promote brands
‘Terminal in a garden’ – Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport officially opens new T2
Berlin Brandenburg Airport Terminal 2 set to open
Bouncing back: Changi Airport opens 80% of T1 and T3 airside stores as traffic recovery quickens
But of course much else has happened besides. Headwinds ranging from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and its consequences, to bottlenecks in global supply chains continue to threaten to disrupt the pace of the post-pandemic recovery.
Rising prices, particularly in food and energy, remain big risk factors in terms of consumer confidence and spending. Central banks are increasing interest rates to tame inflation, with the prospects of decreased economic activity and recession in many markets in the year ahead. All of these have potential consequences for travel and tourism and the pace of recovery.
What we see on the ground across our channel gives us reasons for optimism however. Investment by airports, retailers and brands not just in delivering new space but in creating colourful, surprising and exciting engagement with travellers – using both digital and physical tools – has also accelerated.
The compelling examples we have chosen within this year-end edition speak to an industry that is returning with confidence in the future, that has the consumer at the heart of its planning, that is more partnership-aware then before, and that is increasingly thinking and acting sustainably.
We, too, are aiming to take our service to the industry to a new level in 2023, after we marked a special milestone, our 20th anniversary, in 2022. That includes deeper coverage of the themes that matter to our readers – from diversity to sustainability to the impact of the Metaverse – as well as remaining a trusted, independent voice for the industry, a progressive corporate citizen and a long-term partner to many of you and your organisations.
We wish all of our readers health and happiness over the rest of the festive season and peace and prosperity in 2023.
Martin Moodie Founder & Chairman The Moodie Davitt Report
Dermot Davitt President The Moodie Davitt Report
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The Moodie Davitt eZine Issue 318 | 30 December 2022
The Moodie Davitt eZine is published 14 times per year by The Moodie Davitt Report (Moodie International Ltd).
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