ABSTRACT
Purpose The purpose of this article is to identify the opportunities for resetting Caribbean tourism along the lines of sustainability, the use of SMART technology and social inclusion so that it benefits all of its stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual paper that draws on research about the limitations of Caribbean tourism and the emerging needs of tourism stakeholders in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Findings The paper proposes five areas of focus - educating smartly, becoming a smart and strategic employer, using technology smartly to identify value and values of internal and external customers, thinking, buying, using sustainably and connecting the dots in joined up government. Research limitations/implications The paper draws on current research on problems associated with pre-pandemic tourism and proposes ways that these can be addressed. It utilizes the service-profit chain model to identify the relationships between internal and external service value. Practical implications Caribbean tourism interests have the choice of using the pandemic as an enforced pause or an opportunity to reset. This paper assumes the latter choice and makes specific recommendations for private and public sector interests to shape a sector that is socially inclusive and sustainable and that incorporates smart technology. Social implications The Caribbean is the world's most tourism dependent region but a critical examination indicates that the pursuit of tourist numbers and dollars has come at a cost to local residents. The paper utilizes the new three Ss of smart destinations, social inclusion and sustainability to recommend ways in which tourism can better serve the region and a new generation of tourists. Originality/value Tourism in the Caribbean has grown exponentially but not always in a way that benefits all of its stakeholders. Covid-19 forced a cessation of most activities and created an opportunity to rethink tourism. This paper recognizes that the changing needs of external and internal stakeholders must be considered if tourism is to be successful and sustainable, and proposes five overlapping and important innovations.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) global pandemic forced hospitality and tourism service providers to respond by pivoting business models in line with governmental restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. This paper explores the online responsiveness of tourism-affiliated culinary service providers to a major external disruption. Methods: This study uses ecosystem resilience and Internet marketing theories to analyze 139 web homepages of culinary tourism service providers promoted by the official tourism website of Jamaica, to measure of Jamaica to measure online responsiveness to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Findings show that web page responses vary between the official tourism web page and the restaurants promoted on its site. Responses also vary across restaurant affiliation clusters and across location clusters. Further, resilient web page responses are more commonly associated with hotel restaurants and eponymous restaurants. Implications: Culinary service providers promoted by the official tourism marketing arm of a destination should consistently practice resilient online marketing response to external shocks. This study provides a novel analysis of online responsiveness to COVID-19 and contributes a summary framework for resilient response by culinary ecosystem providers preparing for post-pandemic travel.