Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry: An evaluation from the hotel managers' perspective

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic, which is seen as a source of crisis worldwide, has also had negative effects in many ways in the tourism industry. In this process, it is important to find out the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and its solutions to tourism businesses. The aim of the research is to determine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the tourism industry, to evaluate the views of hotel managers and to offer solutions to problems in hotels. The research data were collected through face-to-face interviews with the hotel managers in Bodrum-Muğla. The interviews, in which a semi-structured interview technique was used to collect data, were held between July-September 2020. The data were analyzed with the descriptive analysis technique. The analysis was respectively carried out as the conceptual structure, modelling of data, organizing data through tables, and interpretation of findings. As a result, it has been revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic affects hotel businesses economically, socially and psychologically.

The Impact of Covid-19 on Malaysia Tourism Industry Supply Chain

“…To ensure high hygiene standards, hotels should use manual (e.g., staff rounds) and automated (e.g., robot-based) practices to hold out regular hygiene surveillance. As sensors in cleaning robots can measure the amount of dust in a hotel, some robots clean in a more extensive setting in that location, and others generate data that is useful to the cleaning teams (DEMİR et al, 2021) Malaysia is banking on its domestic tourism industry to provide the momentum for a tourism sector recovery and support. Restrictions on the movement of people have also heavily affected domestic tourism flows, but these are expected to rebound once control measures are lifted.…”

“…Without further government assistance (i.e. financial loan, expansion of Main Street Lending Program), nearly half (47%) of respondents indicated they would be forced to close hotels (DEMİR et al, 2021). More than one-third of hotels will be facing bankruptcy or be forced to sell by second quarter of 2021.…”

The impact of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic: Digital transformation changes in tourism

“…This shows that "the pressure to introduce massive stimulus packages is lower when tourism providers are better prepared to use more digital tools during a pandemic, especially in developed economies". In their study which was aimed to determine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the tourism industry, Demir et al (2021) reached the conclusion of "one of the important changes that Covid-19 has brought to accommodation businesses was the investments made in technology and the tendency towards digitalization". Similarly, Özaltın Türker (2020) emphasized that "the demand for tourism would decrease due to Covid-19 and that economic losses and employment problems would consequently arise, while participation in individual-based tourism activities and the importance of digitalization would increase in tourism".…”

The impact of tourist’s hygiene-safety perception on their intention to travel during the Covid-19 pandemic in Turkey

“…They suggested that the conceptual model presented in the study can be used as a framework to investigate the effects on the behavioral intentions of tourists. Demir et al (2021) showed that hotel managers anxiety increased according to the findings of face-to-face interviews which is done to them during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the study it is stated that the anxiety of hotel managers turns into fear, especially in April, May and June, when the pandemic is felt severely.…”