To read this content please select one of the options below:

Hotel owners’ perception of tourism in India during the COVID-19 pandemic

Shradha Kabra (Department of Business Communication, Birla Institute of Management Technology, Greater Noida, India)

International Journal of Tourism Cities

ISSN: 2056-5607

Article publication date: 14 July 2022

Issue publication date: 16 March 2023

136

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to study hotel owners’ perception of tourism in the five creative cities of India during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured, in-depth interviews (N = 30) and participant observation were the methods used for collecting qualitative data. Data was analysed using content analysis.

Findings

The findings reveal the effect of tourism on the psyche of small and medium enterprise hotel owners. Factors contributing to this anxiety are unpreparedness for the crisis, cash flow problems, failure to be flexible in this crisis, inability to leverage hotel’s location and lack of hygiene habits.

Research limitations/implications

The research illustrated a systemic lack of knowledge and training in the unorganized hotel sector in India which if addressed, could assist the hotel owners and staff in building trust toward tourists and a positive attitude toward the crisis.

Originality/value

As the study analyses the unorganized hotel sector in the Indian context, it provides useful insights for the Indian Government and hospitality industry to foster trust and positivity in this sector during the COVID-19 pandemic which could significantly contribute to its revival and psychological recovery of its stakeholders.

Keywords

Citation

Kabra, S. (2023), "Hotel owners’ perception of tourism in India during the COVID-19 pandemic", International Journal of Tourism Cities, Vol. 9 No. 1, pp. 95-110. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-03-2022-0061

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, International Tourism Studies Association.

Related articles