COVID-19 IMPACT ON TOURISM AND THE WAY FORWARD
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all” - Helen Keller.
“Take only memories, leave only footprints” - Chief Seattle.
“The World is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.” - Saint Augustine.
“Traveling-It leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”- Ibn Battuta
"By staying home today, we can travel tomorrow”- UNWTO
Life is a journey not a destination , make this journey more glorious..
Tourism is temporary short term movement of people from their residence to destination. Tourism arises from a movement of people to destination and their stay in various destinations.
Tourism is defined as travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes. Tourism is the act of traveling within your own country, or to an international destination. Tourism means people travelling for fun.
Tourism, one of the biggest and fastest growing sector has been considered as a vulnerable industry i.e. in comparison to other industries, tourism industry gets more affected due to any external or internal shocks or stresses.
CORONA VIRUS (COVID 19)
coronavirus is a kind of common virus that causes an infection in your nose, sinuses, or upper throat.
Corona virus affect whole world's economy , people and all industries in a huge amount. It spread from Wuhan, china through seafood. It became a harmful disease for human being. WHO announced corona virus a pandemic. It is the cause of death of many people all over the world. Pandemic is an epidemic that's spread over multiple countries and continent. P in pandemic, which means a pandemic has a passport. A pandemic is an epidemic that travels. March 11, the WHO has classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic.
Corona virus affect upper respiratory tract ( sinuses, nose, and throat) or lower respiratory tract (windpipe and lungs). Animals initially transmitted the virus to humans. According to the CDC, people may start to experience symptoms 2–14 days after exposure to the virus.
The coronavirus has been responsible for millions of infections globally, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths. The United States has seen the highest number of these deaths.
The disease’s global reach and the application of classic disease controls in the form of quarantine, reduced mobility and isolation have had a dramatic effect on international and domestic tourism alike along with a range of sector specific impacts, including transport, travel and booking agencies, hospitality, restaurants, conventions and events, and attractions.
This does not change current recommendations for protecting yourself, including practicing good hygiene, avoiding contact with sick people, and staying home as much as possible.
CHALLENGES FACED BY TOURISM INDUSTRY AT THE TIME OF COVID-19
In tourism, there are some challenges or factors that is not in control of tourism industry and travel companies. These are political situations , environmental disaster, social shift and any disease ( at present Corona virus). Corona virus hit tourism industry at a large range. It create lots of Challenges at the front of tourism industry. People can’t go outside at that time because of lockdown or safety purpose. Tourism is a physical tourism industry without going outside from home , it can’t grow rapidly.
At this time of uncertainty/corona virus, all industries are reeling but it is the tourism sector that has been hit the most given all the border closures, travel restrictions and lockdowns. Airlines, cruise operators and hotels are seeing instant effects of the pandemic.
Here are some challenges at present in the front of Tourism industry
TAXATION
Tourism is one of the most taxed sectors. Taxes paid on airline tickets and hotel rooms gives an idea of how taxation can greatly affect tourism. Therefore, it’s necessary for the travel industry to offer competitively priced offerings in order to balance out the equation. Tourists contribute to the local economy via purchases, travel retail, and other tourism expenditures.
After the COVID-19 , because of inflation taxes rates will increase. It will became more tough for Tourists to spend money for leisure. Government should give some relief and incentives.
TRAVEL SAFETY AND SECURITY
Tourism industry should provide better safety and security infrastructure for tourists and travelers. Governments must work towards sourcing for more manpower and economic resources to boost security and vigilance without stifling the travel experience within the country.
Now most of Tourist will travel only after the insure travel insurance because they became more careful for situation. Any time if something happens with them they have option for treatment and survive. Industry have to insure them they are safe in host country or destination.
INTERNATIONAL TOURISM
Tourism is entering a great crisis due to the worldwide panic of the Corona Virus, duration and scope still unknown.
The impact of the Corona Virus on companies is already global with cancellations of trips, public events, temporary employment adjustments, and falls in income.The Corona Virus has convulsed the world tourism industry, with large hotel chains and digital platforms such as Booking being forced to cancel reservations in the Asian country or world wide.
According to UNWTO :-
Worldwide loss of 850 to 1.1 million international Tourist
ECONOMY
Tourism industry play one of the most important role in world wide GDP. It is a highly economy boosting sector. Most of countries economy depends on tourism sector. Corona virus affect worldwide too much.
China’s tourism industry will be most affected due to the virus , tourism represents 11% of their GDP.
According to UNWTO :-
• Worldwide Loss of US$ 910 billion to US$ 1.2 trillion in export revenues from tourism.
• 100 to 200 million jobs at risk
Some countries Tourist visited data:-
• France-86.9 million
• Spain-81.9 million
• United States-76.9 million
• China-60.7 million
These countries are most attract Tourists. Annually millions of Tourist visit there and they contribute to increase countries GDP. But at the time of corona virus situation are very changed.
These are some challenges faced by tourism industry at the time time of covid-19.
TOURISM STRATEGICS TO SURVIVE
The tourism industry is one of the largest in the world but by covid-19 it faces many problems.
Once a wise man said “Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination”. Tourism is not the type of industry you want to allow to set sail without a clear direction and someone at the helm.
Tourism is a booming business. Every tourism destination needs a tourism strategy, or a long-term tourism plan that unites the industry and the government to pursue a shared vision for tourism development and management.
Blogging
By hosting bloggers we can promote our tourism industry on the internet with articles and hashtags on social media.
This is the time when we need to motivate Tourist for travel. Blogging is the best way to promote tourism industry through article writing on destinations, by photographs of destinations/attractions. Also motivate Travelers for share their experience of traveling. Using hashtags on social media for promote tourism. At present/time of corona virus for motivate travelers :- #traveltommorrow
Online Booking and Payment
The value of online reservations and payment are highly underrated. If individuals can pay for their hotel room as well as book recreational activities online they will be far more likely to be interested in your area travel. Offering 24 hour booking and payment encourages tourists that you are accessible and up-to-date. Tour operator , Travel agent should be more active for handle the situation.
Modern looking website
It is no secret that having a professionally renovated website is key to drawing in the contemporary tourist. People want to see high quality photographs with detailed descriptions and cost breakdowns before they make a decision on where they want to travel. website has professionally designed and maintained in order to draw in the most traffic. Agents have to give information about safe places for tourism. For the protection/safety for health social distance is necessary.
Working with industry trade partners to distribute product.
Tourism Stakeholders role to recover the tourism sector
A stakeholder is a person, group, or organization that can affect or be affected an organisation. The stakeholders in tourism destination are: local resident, local companies, media, employees, government, competitors, tourists, business associations, activists and tourism developers.
Participation of stakeholders in the decision-making process is very important for tourism development.
National Government
National governments play an important role in tourism development.They plan tourism activities at national levels. National government's roles include developing and maintaining infrastructures such as roads, railways, and ports; promoting destinations to local and international tourists; and ensuring safety and security of tourists. National government should motivate travelers for tourism. Indian government start campaign :- Dekho Desh Apna
And start many tourism related quizs.
Local Government
Local governments with specific competence in tourism matters also play in important role in tourism development. Councils promote local tourist attractions, provide infrastructure and services to support tourism and manage the impacts of tourism. local govt. Can aware Tourist for their area's safe, clean and attractives places.
Tourism enterprises
Tourism enterprises play a variety of roles in tourism development. For example, airlines, trains, and buses transport tourists from one place to another, restaurants provide them with food and drinks, and hotels provide accommodation. Tour operators, travel agencies, and tourist information centres also fall in to this category.
Employees and professionals
Tourism employees, professionals and consultants also play a very important role in tourism development. Restaurants, hotels, airlines, buses, trains, and others will certainly struggle should they employ an inadequate number of employees, or there are shortages of skilled people in the market.
These are some other stakeholders:- institutions engaged in financing tourism projects, trade unions of employees and professionals working in tourism, tourism educational centres, and other tourism specialist organisations play a variety of roles in tourism development.
The tourism sector is founded on good communication between people. “We are keeping the interest in the destinations alive so that consumers have a desire to travel there once the restrictions are lifted," say Beena Menon and Huzan Fraser Motivala, partners Beautiful Planet Destination Marketing.
CONCLUSION
By staying home today, we can travel tomorrow. And travelling tomorrow will support jobs, celebrate culture and promote international friendship and understanding.
The recovery might be slow, but we are sure, once we manage to control this virus, the tourism industry will be the first one to see major growth. After a very long time of no international travel, people would be looking forward to explore once again.
The travel and tourism industry is one of the worst-hit sector. It’s a crisis worse than all the previous major disruptions combined, including the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, 9/11 attacks or the global financial crisis.
In the best-case scenario, as the virus spread is contained, may be the recovery journey in the July, August, September quarter with essential and domestic travel starting first with restrictions. All the industry players will have to focus on taking sanitization and hygiene improvement and social-distancing related measures at every stage of the journey. Social distancing will become the new normal at least for a couple of quarters.
Travel and hospitality is a sector that creates massive direct and indirect employment, drives consumption, earns foreign exchange and invigorates the domestic economy across a range of other sectors including transportation, food, beverage, lifestyle, culture, recreation, sports and more. Covid-19 has brought the momentum of the travel industry to a halt but with timely intervention and requisite support from the government, it’s a sector that can help lead recovery for the economy while continuing to support millions of jobs.
TRAVEL TOMMOROW
