COVID-19 and Its Impact on Tourism Industry.

ABSTRACT

The current COVID-19 pandemic is leading to significant changes in terms of people's economic behavior, which will inevitably impact the tourism industry and tourism activity both worldwide and in tourism host countries. Immediate control measures, such as necessary restrictions on travel, avoiding physical contact, social distancing, as well as tourists' and patients' changes in priority making, have vanished interest in traveling away from the place of usual residence and seeking to receive tourism services. COVID-19 pandemic has caused immediate impacts across the whole spectrum of economic and social activity. The duration and intensity of the arising malfunction in tourism are not yet known; thus, it is too early to make any assessments of the financial losses that will be recorded on an annual basis. However, an initial approach is necessary in order to assess the range of to date impacts, aiming at a critical appraisal of the current situation. It will mainly help in making the appropriate pandemic management plan in the tourism industry.