ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 outbreak has challenged the global tourism sector, and it has posed a significant threat to the existence of tourism business across the globe, especially in emerging economies. This study examines the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel intermediary businesses in India and their strategies to overcome the present predicament. The study draws on the interviews with 15 executives of selected travel intermediary firms located around the country. The findings emphasise the economic downturn, customer retention policies, resilience strategies and current shifts in the industry. The outcomes also identify the recent tendency towards the traditional travel booking/holiday-booking trend towards traditional intermediaries. This research contributes to a better understanding and implementation of business continuity methods in tourist studies, and its results have practical implications for administrators and governments. Copyright © 2022 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 outbreak has challenged the global tourism sector, and it has posed a significant threat to the existence of tourism business across the globe, especially in emerging economies. This study examines the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel intermediary businesses in India and their strategies to overcome the present predicament. The study draws on the interviews with 15 executives of selected travel intermediary firms located around the country. The findings emphasise the economic downturn, customer retention policies, resilience strategies and current shifts in the industry. The outcomes also identify the recent tendency towards the traditional travel booking/holiday-booking trend towards traditional intermediaries. This research contributes to a better understanding and implementation of business continuity methods in tourist studies, and its results have practical implications for administrators and governments.
ABSTRACT
PurposeThis study aims to examine the impacts of the forced shift to online/hybrid learning on international students' perceptions and behaviour. It aims to understand the direction of future university marketing changes to address this vital and urgent concern. Design/methodology/approachThis study deployed an explorative qualitative design and data collected through interviews (n, 20) with prospective international students. FindingsThe study identified four main themes: mode of class operation, that is, the balance between online/offline/hybrid modes of course delivery;enhanced level of flexibility in terms of both visa regulations and financial aid;strategic use of social media and virtual tools to connect with and impress the international student community;and evidence of digitalization and experiential learning. Practical implicationsThis study has many theoretical and managerial implications. As international students perceive COVID-19 as an under-researched theme in the higher education market, the study's outcome helps understand the grey areas of expectation versus reality in higher education marketing. Originality/valueThis research offers a new perspective from the demand side on higher education marketing strategies amid COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The tourism sector’s fragility lends significance to mental health and wellbeing, especially amongst workers in the hotel and tourism sectors. However, stakeholders’ subjective wellbeing and mental health in these sectors due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remain under-researched, especially for destinations with unique selling propositions (USPs). Thus, this study investigates the effects of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic on various stakeholders in Kerala, India. In particular, the authors assess the mental health and welfare of those involved in the tourism sector with an eye on how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the field’s psychological and technical developments. Design/methodology/approach: This study employs an ethnographic approach to understanding the idiosyncratic experiences of stakeholders using in-depth interviews (n = 68), focus group interviews (n = 3) and participant observation for 14 months. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings: The findings reveal the shifting perceptions in the tourism sector’s workforce by detailing various societal, technical and physical transformations, especially amongst the younger generations. The resultant psychological mapping generates a framework of the emotional perspectives of stakeholders during each stage of the pandemic. This study also highlights the urgency of crisis-management training for the workforce. Originality/value: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all spheres of global business, resulting in unprecedented challenges in both personal and professional life. The sector’s fragility lends significance to mental health and wellbeing, especially amongst workers in the hotel and tourism sectors. However, the subjective wellbeing and mental health of stakeholders in these sectors due to the COVID-19 pandemic remain under-researched, especially for the developing destinations with USPs. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has created enormous pressure on the tourism and hospitality industries. In the post-COVID-19 era, destinations ought to attain the right balance between public security and economic recovery. Many destinations are trying to achieve this equilibrium by limiting international tourism and, instead, by targeting domestic tourists. Given that the future of tourism relies on the survival of the safest and smartest destinations, it is essential to work together on the recent advances in the sector. To this end, this research examines the current trends and practise by applying an explorative qualitative study design incorporated with data triangulation. The study findings point out two prevailing schools of thought, viz. the new normal and back to normal. The technological innovations support the ‘new normal’ waves, call for sustainability, rebuild current tourism to create a more sustainable form, and regenerate domestic and special interest tourism such as solo tourism. At the same time, the ‘back to normal’ philosophies are fuelled by the past global crises and the exceptional bouncy characteristics of the tourism sector to recover. However, both of these viewpoints are further direct towards the growing body of uncertainties, which can be unique to the COVID-19 pandemic, where predictions were found to be off beam. © 2021 Publishing India Group. All rights reserved.