Pandemics, transformations and tourism: be careful what you wish for

TLDR

Pandemics have historically driven societal and economic change, but the effects are selective and can be unexpected, underscoring the need for a global approach to sustainable tourism. The paper aims to contextualise COVID‑19’s impact on tourism, government, industry, and consumer responses. The authors review existing literature to identify factors influencing tourism and destination recovery. The review shows that pandemic measures can both sustain growth and promote sustainability, but the selective impact of COVID‑19 and containment policies may reorient tourism or reinforce nationalist agendas, and a comprehensive transformation of the tourism system is unlikely without a fundamental planetary shift.

Abstract

Disease outbreaks and pandemics have long played a role in societal and economic change. However, the nature of such change is selective, meaning that it is sometimes minimal and, at other times, and change or transformation may be unexpected, potentially even reinforcing contemporary paradigms. A comprehensive overview of pandemics and their effects is provided. This is used to help contextualise the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on tourism and government, industry and consumer response. Drawing on the available literature, factors that will affect tourism and destination recovery are then identified. Some measures will continue or even expand present growth orientations in tourism while others may contribute to sustainability. It is concluded that that the selective nature of the effects of COVID-19 and the measures to contain it may lead to reorientation of tourism in some cases, but in others will contribute to policies reflecting the selfish nationalism of some countries. However, the response to planetary limits and sustainable tourism requires a global approach. Despite clear evidence of this necessity, the possibility for a comprehensive transformation of the tourism system remains extremely limited without a fundamental transformation of the entire planet.