Governance Through the COVID-19 Crisis and its Implications for Tourism: A Global and Australian Perspective in the Context of Contested Wicked Problems

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic was the most ‘over governed’ tourism crisis since World War II. Unlike disruptions prior to 2020, it challenged many long-held paradigms about global tourism including fundamental issues like the right to travel. Therefore, it qualified fully as a ‘wicked problem’ defined by Rittel and Webber (1973) and Head (2022). The extent of government-imposed regulation was central to the management of and response to COVID-19. All tiers of government-mandated measures, including border closures, area lockdowns, quarantine regimes, social distancing, pressure to accept vaccinations, masks and testing requirements applied in most countries and regional territorial jurisdictions throughout 2020 and 2021. In some cases, notably in China, restrictions remained until early 2023. Tourism’s recovery from crises involves rebuilding consumer and stakeholder confidence and focussing on marketing positive perceptions of destinations and enterprises. However, during the COVID-19 crisis, marketing and promotion of tourism recovery were hampered by a regulatory environment restricting tourism activity across sectors. As a ‘wicked problem’ for global tourism, COVID-19 incorporates many of Head’s (2022) seven policy strategies to deal with Rittel and Webber’s (1973) ten elements of wicked problems including authoritative imposition, micro-management and science (health) based technocracy. The Australian response to COVID-19 was significantly complicated by the fact nine governments (one Federal, six states and two territories) frequently had differing policy and regulatory approaches to COVID-19. These affected international and domestic travel to, from and within Australia. Australia’s fragmented, federalist governance of a health-based crisis exacerbated the restrictions imposed on both domestic and international travel.

Citation

Beirman, D. (2024), "Governance Through the COVID-19 Crisis and its Implications for Tourism: A Global and Australian Perspective in the Context of Contested Wicked Problems", Pforr, C., Pillmayer, M., Joppe, M., Scherle, N. and Pechlaner, H. (Ed.) Tourism Policy-Making in the Context of Contested Wicked Problems: Sustainability Paradox, Climate Emergency and COVID-19 (Advances in Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, Vol. 17A), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 119-137. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1871-31732024000017A008