Abstract
This study investigated the impacts of the coronavirus on the tourism industry. Tourism demand during the pandemic was compared in Brazil, Spain and the USA. Implications of the pandemic and the changes on the demand for sustainability in tourism are discussed. Results indicate that although the industry did stop almost entirely, there are opportunities for the revival of a more sustainable tourism.
Highlights
The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic all over the world during the first semester of 2020, which has become a global economic and social crisis, has had a deep impact on the tourism sector
Francesc Romagosa sector so far, this study aims at analyzing possible implications this crisis may have for the sector's sustainability and the challenges it faces
The travel industry is one of the most affected sectors by the crisis, as the policy of isolation resulting from contention measures for contagion by COVID-19 directly affects the economic dynamics of the sector, leaving almost no possibility of revenue
Summary
The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic all over the world during the first semester of 2020, which has become a global economic and social crisis, has had a deep impact on the tourism sector. According to calculations made by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international tourist arrivals dropped between 58% and 78% in 2020, if compared to the previous year (UNWTO, 2020a) These numbers will be accompanied by a deep global economic recession. Many voices — especially coming from the academic world — have recently claimed that the “return to normal” should not be a priority Instead, this crisis should be an opportunity to promote a more sustainable tourism and address the challenges that the sector already had before the crisis (i.e. climate change, overtourism, etc.) and introduce relevant transformations (BROUDER, 2020; FLETCHER et al, 2020; IOANNIDES; GYIMÓTHY, 2020; NEPAL, 2020; PRIDEAUX et al, 2020; ROMAGOSA, 2020). The three countries all share a high contribution of tourism to countries’ GDP’s, and planning strategies and affirmative actions for resuming tourism can contribute to a faster and more sustainable recovery of losses generated in the first half of 2020
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