TOURISM SECURITY AND TAKING RESPONSIBILITY IN THE SHADOW OF THE COVID19 PANDEMIC - WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

ABSTRACT

Today's tourism is undergoing radical changes. Until 2020, the number of people participating in tourism had grown steadily, and no one would have thought that the globally dominant economy would experience such a shock. Many tourism businesses were forced to suspend their activities and not all of them could continue in the future as they had to look for other sources of livelihood. But businesses that succeed in surviving the economic collapse must be prepared to meet the changing needs of tourists after a reopening. The aim of our research is to assess the attitudes of potential tourists towards the issue of tourism security. Within the topic, we sought answers to what responsibilities, if any, they assume related to health security. In our research, we also looked at whether potential tourists expect them to provide their security. Responsible behaviour, as an expectation, is directed primarily at service providers or they may feel safe in a destination due to actions taken by other actors (including the travellers themselves). In a study based on an online questionnaire survey of almost a thousand people, the results were processed by statistical data analysis. Those wishing to travel do not even see the situati on created by the current pandemic as a barrier to traveling. When it comes to security, public safety is considered to be paramount, and the public sector is expected to create it. Health security is only in second place, but the results suggest that the responsibility lies with service providers in this regard. Based on the obtained results, both tourism service providers and destination management organizations can place more emphasis on tourism security and its marketing communication.