MAll major global cities saw a significant decline in competitiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic, as governments tightened border restrictions and imposed strict social distancing restrictions, according to the 2021 Global Strong Cities Index (GPCI).
It remains to be seen whether, in the post-pandemic world of work, these global centers will retain their ability to attract high-caliber workers. But, Global Energy City Index 2021– Conducted by the Mori Memorial Foundation’s Urban Strategies Institute in Tokyo – it found that most major cities have adapted to work-from-home and hybrid working trends.
Although international travel remains difficult due to COVID-19 restrictions, many cities have begun to ease social distancing measures, as COVID-19 vaccinations rise, says Peter Dastan, a researcher at the Urban Strategies Institute. Some cities have also begun requiring proof of vaccination to attend large events, eat at restaurants or use public transportation.
Dustan believes this year’s Power City Index, released on Wednesday, is useful for comparing how cities have been affected by COVID-19. “The form or nature of urban appeal may change, but its importance in attracting new businesses and talent will remain,” he says.
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For example, Hong Kong, which has ranked in the top 10 every year for the past seven years, fell to 13th place from ninth place in 2020. Weeks of mandatory hotel quarantine for travelers. The Asian financial center also witnessed the largest decline in the number of air passengers, at 88%.
London remains the most attractive city, according to the Global Power City Index, but its overall score fell, with the report’s authors attributing the drop to both the pandemic and Brexit, which hampered its economy and global accessibility. “The fact that all other European cities increased their economic scores suggests that the UK’s exit from the European Union is starting to have an impact, allowing other European cities to start catching up with London,” the institute said.
Tokyo improved its overall results, largely due to the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and improvements in business flexibility as Japan. Adapts to working from home.
The Global Strong Cities Index assesses and ranks global cities by their “attractiveness” using 70 indicators across six categories: economy, research and development, cultural interaction, livability, environment and accessibility.
In the 48 cities evaluated this year, the study saw accessibility take a big hit; Compared to the year before the global pandemic began, the number of international flights between these cities decreased by approximately 50%.
But the Urban Strategies Institute reported some positive changes in the 48 cities despite a decline in the number of people moving between them, with more than half of them seeing an increase in co-working spaces and a decrease in working hours.