Some aspects of tourism and transport in the COVID-19 pandemic time

This paper is aimed to describe the association between tourism and transport, seen in the perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic. The dual role of transport and tourism in the pandemic crisis is very special: it spreads the virus around the world and at the same time is mostly impacted by the pandemic negative consequences. The research was based mainly on the critical review and analysis of the secondary data (SDA method), such available resources as literature, statistic data and reports, actions taken by governments, international institutions and law regulations (published in 2020-2021). This approach allowed deep insight and overview of the most important issues of transport that have influenced tourism in the pandemic crisis. The final result of the study showed that for destinations highly dependent upon tourism-related revenue, the lockdown and transport suspension became a great concern and resulted in economy crisis. We acknowledge that due to the objective limitations, this paper cannot provide a comprehensive insight in tour-ism, transport and crisis issues. However, as this topic is a rarely discussed theme in academic texts, we hope that this paper could be found useful as it explores approaches to tourism from this new perspective. The paper ends with some reflections on sustainable development of the transport sector in the post-pandemic time, when tourism is expected to recover. © 2022, Stanislaw Podobinski Publishing House of the Jan Dlugosz University. All rights reserved.

Gastronomy tourism and the COVID-19 pandemic crisis

This paper aims to consider a sector of cultural tourism: gastronomy tourism (also known as food tourism, culinary tourism) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. This is a conceptual paper, based mainly on the critical review of academic literature and UN WTO, UN WHO and UNESCO documents. By synthesising available data and research results, this paper provides an assessment of the present situation of gastronomy tourism, and tries to formulate some trends possible to be developed in the future, once the pandemic is over (as a potential role of culinary tourism in the revival of the whole sector). The research questions focused on the meaning and tradition of gastronomy tourism, consequences of the COVID-19 crisis and post-pandemic regeneration of the sector. The paper concludes that trends seen in gastronomy tourism sector before lockdown are no longer applicable during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The new technologies helped to overcome some of the challenges which this industry currently faces. Several potential trends might be developed after the pandemic crisis, serving as local food and local culinary tradition promotion. Suggestions are provided for further research as discussion about more resilient, sustainable and inclusive gastronomy tourism in the future as well as recovery practices within the domestic hospitality are important. © 2022, Stanislaw Podobinski Publishing House of the Jan Dlugosz University. All rights reserved.

Tourism, the hotel industry at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic

THE tourism industry is especially sensitive to a pandemic and other unexpected circumstances as natural disasters, war, terrorist attacks. Different types of crisis bring various consequences. In 2020 the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease and travel restrictions caused bruises to the tourism and hospitality industries. Hotel managers, hotel staff and their guests had to take a series of measures to deal with various challenges and face a new situation. This paper aims to critically examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism and hotel industries and discuss some possible survival strategies to be implemented in the hotel sector during the pandemic crisis (in the short and long-term perspective). The research was based on an overview of the relevant literature and sanitary rules developed by UN WHO, local governments and the hotel industry. The authors critically investigated some available statistic data to compare room occupancy before the pandemic and during the COVID-19 crisis and hospitality services offered to hotel guests before the pandemic and after its outbreak. The main findings are presented from several dimensions: hotel and health crisis, sanitary restrictions and possible recovery recommendations. © 2022, Stanislaw Podobinski Publishing House of the Jan Dlugosz University. All rights reserved.

Cultural tourism, museums and COVID-19 pandemic impact

This paper presents some aspects of COVID-19 impact on cultural tourism and on the museum sector. Museums are closely linked to cultural and heritage tourism, considered a significant at-traction. The tourism sector is among the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and cultural tourism is not an exception. In 2020 around 95% museums around the world were closed – according to government sanitary regulations. The aim of the research was to identify the impact of COVID-19 disease on cultural tourism (measured by a number of visitors in the most popular museums in 2019 and 2020) and museums’ adaptation to the sanitary restrictions during the pandemic time. For a few decades museums have tried to enhance their digital activities such as online educational programmes, online collection display, online exhibitions, live events, learning programs, brochures, podcasts, social media and virtual tours. These activities and various projects became especially important during the lockdown caused by the pandemic outbreak, as many museums continued their missions during the pandemic. Some museums have reopened (with strict limita-tions defined by sanitary restrictions), but many institutions remain closed. It shows how crucial IT innovations are. The paper concludes with some reflections on museums’ offer during the pandemic time and cultural tourism prospects in the post-pandemic time. © 2022, Stanislaw Podobinski Publishing House of the Jan Dlugosz University. All rights reserved.

Historic Sports Architecture in the COVID-19 Pandemic Time (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)

In Europe, for more than three millennia, the development of individual disciplines has been accompanied by the evolution of sports facilities. It covers the period from the Ancient Olympic Games to modern sports architecture. The sports architecture heritage, as a magnet for cultural tourism, is evident. Millions of tourists visiting the famous sites are the proof how important these places are for our identity and tradition of European civilization. The most important historic sports facilities are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List: ancient Greek and Roman amphitheatres, thermal baths, antique arenas. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the tourism sector hard. It is essential to reformulate present rules of the historic sports facilities visits and to consider the future directions of cultural tourism re-development at the UNESCO Heritage Sites. Recently there has been a revival of interests in sports heritage and many tourists want to explore famous landmarks of the past. Despite the pandemic time restrictions, it is also possible at present. However, new actions and policies are required to meet sanitary requirements and recommendations, and rebuild consumer confidence. © 2021, Stanislaw Podobinski Publishing House of the Jan Dlugosz University. All rights reserved.