Open AccessTHE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC CRISIS ON TOURISM. A QUALITATIVE SURVEY ON THE OPINIONS OF TOUR OPERATORS IN SICILY
Author(s) -
Cecilia Martina Li Muli,
AUTHOR_ID,
Stefano De Cantis,
Anna Maria Parroco
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
diem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1849-3645
pISSN - 1849-3653
DOI - 10.17818/diem/2022/1.15
Subject(s) - tourism , hospitality , thematic analysis , denial , pandemic , destinations , work (physics) , crisis management , marketing , psychological resilience , public relations , business , tourism geography , qualitative research , covid-19 , geography , sociology , political science , economy , psychology , social psychology , economics , social science , engineering , psychoanalysis , law , pathology , medicine , mechanical engineering , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , archaeology
The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has had direct effects on social relationships. Tourism activities are by definition linked to the interaction among human beings, beginning with a physical movement of a person from a habitually-frequented environment to one or more destinations. Any denial of mobility, therefore, negates the tourist experience. After briefly discussing the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the tourism system and hospitality, this work presents a qualitative survey by means of a thematic analysis approach. The study investigates tourism professionals operating in Sicily, across different tourism sectors and in various segments of the market (cultural, luxury, nautical, rural, and slow tourism). The operators were asked questions about their experiences of the pandemic, with its negative impact, and their expectations and prospects. The abilities to adapt to the new normal and build resilience are often related to offering sustainable products and services, which are characterized by a more robust relationship with the territory and local economy.