THE IMPACT OF COVID PANDEMIC ON TOURISM SECTOR DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Abstract
Over the last few decades, tourism is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing
economic sectors in the world. With the continuous development tourism is experiencing
constant growth and development, thus becoming one of the fastest growing sectors of the
economy in the world. The dynamic development of the tourism sector has contributed
to increased mobility of tourists with the “disappearance of distance” presenting itself as
a catalyst for changes in the environment and has a strong impact on tourism trends. The
Covid-19 virus pandemic has had a devastating effect on the global economy, which has hit
the tourism sector hard. Given the strategies taken and the necessary measures to dampen
the impact of the pandemic, it seems unlikely that tourism will return to normal any time
soon. Even after the progressive lifting of restraint measures, surviving travel companies will
continue to face the challenges of a likely slow recovery. Together with the energy industry,
tourism and hospitality are some of the world’s largest employers. However, unlike the energy
industry, tourism and hospitality are less necessary and therefore very sensitive to significant
shocks like this pandemic. It is essential to examine how the tourism sector will recover after
Covid-19 and how this sector can be made sustainable in a dramatically changed world.