ABSTRACT
An increasing number of tourism studies are focusing on travel anxiety, fear, and worry, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored the impact of worry on individuals' intentions to visit Japanese hot springs (onsen) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A market survey (N = 1042) was conducted in Tokyo. Psychographic segmentation based on exploratory factor analysis was used to group Japanese respondents. Three separate segments emerged as a result: Concerned Visitors, Carefree Visitors, and Trusting Visitors;these segments were based on perceived threat intensity, perceived infectability, response efficacy, self-efficacy, and crowded perception and attitude. These segments were then profiled using factors based on demographic information and visit intention under three criteria: (a) without external travel incentives, (b) with an attractive travel package, or (c) discounts provided by the national Go to Travel campaign. Both attractive package prices and discounts provided by Go to Travel had a small effect on boosting visit intention. Notably, a carefree attitude toward COVID-19 did not increase visit intention and should not be considered a factor that may increase the number of people visiting onsen. Meanwhile, marital status and household composition significantly impacted intention to visit. The segments differed significantly by age, marital status, and family composition, but not gender.
ABSTRACT
The outbreak of COVID-19 brought many negative effects in different regions and economic areas. However, the hotel industry suffered the most adverse effects due to restrictions and measures imposed by countries. Hence, hotels took substantial hit on their financial performance and efficiency. The adverse impact was not same for all hotels across the globe. The extent to which they will record worsening financial performance depends on the implemented governmental measures and actions taken by the hotels. Assessment of changes in revenues, expenses and expense to revenues ratio shows the magnitude of the impact induced by the pandemic. The findings suggest that most hotels have suffered a substantial loss in revenues and significant increase in expense to revenues ratio.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to identify the damage caused by the corona crisis on the ecotourism business, its aggravating contexts and suggestions for reducing the damage in rural areas of Mazandaran. This research has been done with a qualitative approach and with an interview tool. Purposeful sampling was performed. After 21 interviews, theoretical saturation was obtained. Interviews were conducted in rural areas of Mazandaran province. In the present study, selective believing was used as a validation method. Through direct and various citations, documented, the credibility of the research results was confirmed by the researchers. In this way, the text was reasoned with acceptable quotes. In the extraction and coding section, 57 basic concepts were obtained, which were divided into 5 main categories (economic injuries), 2 main categories (social injuries), and 3 main categories (psychological injuries). The intensifying contexts of corona effects were divided into two main categories. Also, the reduction of income was the most important economic damage and the reduction of the indicators of guarantee and reliability of tourism services was the most important occupational damage. Finally, from the perspective of ecotourism homeowners, the most important context for exacerbating the effects of corona on ecotourism, inefficient executive management and lack of job skills, were identified.
ABSTRACT
Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Austrian ski resorts needed to create an emotional attachment to absent tourists and provide attractive offers for local guests at the same time. This study aims to reveal how they have used Instagram to connect with their heterogeneous audiences. To do so, the authors combined a quantitative hashtag analysis and qualitative content analysis of 16 Instagram accounts. Findings indicate a tendency of the ski resorts to communicate positively connotated winter holiday content and present themselves as attractive skiing areas. Here, the topics of the winter landscape, weather, infrastructure, and holiday activities represent dominant themes whereas COVID-19 was covered rarely. In comparison to the previous winter season, only slight differences were identified. This study provides new findings to the rare amount of research on crisis management in ski resorts and contributes further insights into COVID-19 research in tourism. The implications will help ski resorts to prepare for communication in upcoming seasons and future crisis management.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a strong impact on the tourism market worldwide. The aim of the paper was to present the tourism plans of Poles during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research conducted showed that the prevailing pandemic had a significant impact on touristic travel plans. However, the vast majority (over 75%) of the respondents plan at least one tourist trip, which will last from 5 to 7 days. During a tourist trip, the respondents plan to use different forms of accommodation. They considered their own cottage/second house and camping site to be the safest facilities, while hotels or resorts were indicated as the least safe facilities. In order to ensure safety during the stay, the respondents expect specific actions to be taken by the operators of the accommodation facilities, i.e.: availability of hand sanitizers, disinfection of rooms and generally available equipment in the facility as well as compliance with restrictions concerning social distance and the wearing of masks. This article contributes to the evolving literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on development of tourism sector.