Tourism – resilient but vulnerable as “the times they are a changing” in the “new normality”

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a viewpoint about the short- and long-term future of tourism in the light of the effects of the response to Covid-19 and the implications of potential changes tourism might be facing.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a review of current media and academic commentaries and articles on the impact of Covid-19 on tourism, and the likelihood of changes being forced on tourism by external agents of change desiring a different form that the industry should take.

Findings

Current concerns and changes in patterns of tourism are being driven by two main forces: restrictions imposed on travel, both domestic and international, and fear by potential tourists and destination hosts of infection being caused by the resumption of tourist travel. The situation is extremely vulnerable, changing long-established patterns of behaviour and the effects of tourism on economies, communities and environments. The future for tourism is seen as generally positive in the long term, but agents of change opposed to the traditional patterns of tourism may create a negative environment that could cause severe disruption to the industry and its customers, unless tourism displays willingness and resolve to correct previously inappropriate ways of operating.

Originality/value

This paper presents a viewpoint about the short- and long-term future of tourism.

Citation

Butler, R. (2020), "Tourism – resilient but vulnerable as “the times they are a changing” in the “new normality”", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 12 No. 6, pp. 663-670. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-07-2020-0063