The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the events sector of Ouro Preto (MG)

ABSTRACT

The events sector in the municipality of Ouro Preto Minas Gerais is an important contributor to the local economy, they exercise the function of attracting thousands of tourists every year to the city and its districts, thus contributing to the image of the destination and generating employment and income for the Ouro Preto population. In the beginning of 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a pandemic, since then numerous biosafety measures have been adopted to minimize the spread of the new coronavirus, such as the use of masks and social distancing, measures which are incompatible and prevent the holding of in-person events, which caused major impacts in the events sector. Given this scenario, through a qualitative-quantitative approach and with exploratory descriptive purpose, this article aims to reveal the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing in the events sector in the city of Ouro Preto - MG. Therefore, the research demonstrates the difficulties that institutions, entrepreneurs and workers in the event sector in the city are facing, as well as reports that show what measures are being taken to minimize damage and survive the crisis.