“Thinking Small”: Exploring the Opportunities of Tourism During the Post-COVID-19 Era Using the Systems Thinking Paradigm

Abstract

Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines has undergone the “new normal” transition, creating a strategic recovery effort to reinvigorate the industry. In tourism, these transitions aim to safeguard employees' and guests' health and safety, ensure continuity of business operations, boost tourism confidence leading to satisfaction, and establish a resilient and sustainable tourism industry in the postpandemic era. Hence, this chapter employs a system thinking leveraging a causal loop diagram (CLD) to construct a comprehensive roadmap for Philippine tourism's postpandemic resurgence through the system thinking lens. The CLD visually illustrates the inter-related factors influencing the recovery process, encompassing collaborative engagements, innovations, economic revitalization, and health and safety protocols. By analyzing the causal relationships among these variables, this chapter explicates the dynamic and interconnected nature of the postpandemic recovery leading to the recovery of the Philippine tourism industry, especially in the context of thinking small. Through this chapter, thinking small could involve a shift toward localized solutions and community-focused initiatives that allow them to foster local economies, build resilience, and create a more inclusive and sustainable postpandemic recovery.

Citation

Cornell, D.A.V., Dapiton, E.P. and Lagman, L.B. (2024), "“Thinking Small”: Exploring the Opportunities of Tourism During the Post-COVID-19 Era Using the Systems Thinking Paradigm", Rivera, J.P.R., Gutierrez, E.L.M. and Roxas, F.M.Y. (Ed.) Revisiting Sustainable Tourism in the Philippines (New Perspectives in Tourism and Hospitality Management), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 107-134. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-678-820241006