Post-Pandemic Recovery: A Case of Domestic Tourism in Akaroa (South Island, New Zealand)

Asif Hussain,Francesc Fusté-Forné

doi:10.3390/world2010009

Abstract

The current pandemic (Covid-19) disrupted businesses and challenged societies all over the world. In particular, destinations are being urged to keep the attraction and value of their products and services in post-pandemic tourism recovery programs. Drawing from a qualitative study based on published reports and research, and using participant observation, this research analyses the situation of tourism in Akaroa, South Island of New Zealand, during the coronavirus outbreak and the first stages of the recovery process. Results of the research show that while crisis management led to the closure of the sector due to strict social and travel restrictions, the confinement measures adopted by the government and the progressive reopening of the country has resulted in a shift from “cruise tourism” into a gradual return of “domestic tourism”. This paper argues that local peoples’ perspectives must be kept in mind when developing a tourism recovery strategy. This case study also shows that because of the nature of changing working environment, there is potential to change local demography in the form of an increase in residents putting pressure on local infrastructure. In a rural and marine environment, local stakeholders’ attention is required to focus on “quality” of tourism rather than “quantity”. Nature-based resources and outdoor activities are expected to be the critical ingredients for tourism’s immediate and sustainable future.

Highlights

The global health crisis in the form of the outbreak of Covid-19 has brought the world to a standstill
It is vital to understand the current scenarios of the crisis and mobilise relevant stakeholders to secure the re-emergence of the tourism industry
Incorporating epidemiological indicators to tourism is crucial to tourism recovery programs that require expertise in planning and implementing recovery strategies [35]

Summary

Introduction

The global health crisis in the form of the outbreak of Covid-19 has brought the world to a standstill. It is vital to understand the current scenarios of the crisis and mobilise relevant stakeholders to secure the re-emergence of the tourism industry. Among these measures, cooperation among tourism destinations, tourists, and public and private institutions such as transportation businesses is crucial to sustain and make the sector resilient both in the short and long run. Tourism is not a stand-alone sector; it needs to be considered in conjunction with other economic activities which directly and indirectly support the industry from a local perspective (see, for example, [2,3,4]). This paper argues that putting people first will help tourism stakeholders face the crisis from a sustainability and resilience perspective

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Results

Conclusion