The year 2020 was one of the inevitable historical years in medical, global tourism, economic, commercial, communication, educational, and several other public and private sectors over the globe. The majority of the sectors were supported by technological advances yet the spread of the covid-19 virus imparted a major downfall for the tourism industry worldwide. This 2020 brought forth a drastic change in the curricula of various industries and departments of the hospitality sector. Among those industries, the global tourism industry faced the tail off. The overnight visitor rate fell by 72% from January to October 2020 compared to the pre-pandemic situation in 2019, stated the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Tourism expertise addressed that the fall of the tourism industry declined the growth of various supporting platforms of the global tourism sector, which include, Airlines from the ground, hotels, street vendors, trip planners, ticketing agencies, other food and accommodation renders. In this article, let us discuss how covid-19 changed global tourism in 2020 and the expected comeback of the T&T industry post-pandemic in 2023.
Effect of lockdown on the four main pillars of the world tourism industry
Travel & Tourism is one of the biggest financial-hub of every developed and developing nation. People know engaging in the tourism industry would gain successful returns far better than the investment, spend a lot for providing a better experience and services for the tourists via ticketing, traveling, accommodation, and a lot more. Hospitality plays a key role in building successful growth in the tourism sector as the T&T industry is primarily dependent on the supply side to provide the necessary ailments for the demand side. Inclusive of hospitality and other services, the following top four factors are recognized to be the pillars of the tourism industry. They are,
• Attraction plays an excellent role in the demand side – the Tourism industry is also referred to as the travel industry yet, travel does not refer to as tourism owing to the fact tourists are people who travel consecutively over a while for various reasons. Peculiarly people who love to travel for a cause such as to attain pleasure, recreation, enjoyment, acknowledge the diverse cultures, exchange of religious behavior, experience, the interaction of various features were attracted over eccentric destinations concerning their preferences. These attractive features of assorted kinds are natural, man-made, event, and cultural. The natural attractions were mostly liked by the Agri and eco-tourists who travel for the love of nature, and their tourism is a kind of purposeful trip to purify their soul and mental health via tourism. Pilgrims who seek peace via tourism were most likely to be attracted by the cultural features of a nation, preferably Pacific and Asian countries were considered to be better destinations for cultural attractions owing to the presence of monuments, temples, holy rivers, holy caves, mountain ranges, etc. Gadabouts who seek habitual pleasure via backpacking and traveling are interested in the eventual and built attractions like concerts, national & international fashion, sports & cultural fests, build wonders and attractions. The middle east and the European countries were best known for attracting tourists via events and fests. The spread of Covid-19 put a temporary pause for these holidaymakers in the past year. Yet, the clinical guidance bestowed by the nations renowned the interests of people over travel and tourism.
• Accessibility is the foremost thing considered by the travelers – Transportation occupies a weighty role in the travel progress. While attraction plays a crucial role in the demand side, accessibility is much concerned by the supply side. Several wanderers have to do with the best accessibility features from ticketing to destination visits. During the invasive effect of the coronavirus, every means of transportation airlines, private flights, road and rail transports were shut down this lowered the economical income fetched via transportation over the countries and continents. National and international tourism were stuck as the lockdown prevailed over a huge period. Eventually, in early 2021 the stage of captivation decreased and people began to explore the cities following the preventive measures.
• Facilities bestowed by the service providers – Facilities and amenities are the direct intermediates between tourists and tourism industry workers. Facilities bestowed by the hospitality services provide better experience and enjoyment for the globetrotters. People planning their vacation in famous tourist destinations were make the effort for gaining the best amenities that support their trip which include hotel stay, food, local transports, destination planning, photos, social media handles, internet connectivity, and so on. The support and aids offered by the supply side for the holidaymakers were broken as the need for demand reduced in the pandemic. Whereas in the later 2020 the HM industries supported and encouraged the T&T industry with their utmost protection and care of the travelers in every aspect like catering, menu planning, housekeeping, frequent cleaning, and sanitation over the accommodation rooms.
• Support services lent by various sectors – The tourism board of the country excessively provides various support and services for the growth of tourism over the nation as the tourism sector is one of the important revenue resources of the nation. Additionally, according to the 1993 act for ecotourism, all the countries bore plenty of supports for the eco-tourists as they give a helping hand for publicizing the ecological importance of the country and protecting environmental resources. Inclusive of indirect supports certain travel agencies and transportation links directly connects the tourism via promotion and publicize the need for tourism. The Government and other private supporters developed various ideologies for the sustainment of global tourism in the second half of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 via vaccination campaigns and clinical guidance for the sightseers.
The historical importance of global tourism boost the demand and supply chain of the T&T industry
The happenings of several historical recessions over the global tourism industry since 1950 developed and declined various famous tourist spots for the travelers. As you may know, the tourism industry is a set of two main wings of the traveler section which include the supply side and the demand side. Though the demand and supply sides are in coordination with one another, the outbreak of diseases paused the events and seasonal festivals over the globe. Also, the entry for several seasonal happenings has been restricted which is hampering the mood of travel. The Dynamic Nature of the travel & tourism industry depends on certain main calamities before pandemic which include Political, Social profile of the country, Economy, environmental, technological, and Geographical importance of the destination yet the post-pandemic scenario paved the way for the most important calamity that is the clinical assistance.
The airline services invoked the “travel bubble concept” to boost the tourism rate post-pandemic by rebuilding the necessity of secured tourism in the traveler’s mind. One of the tourism expertise stated that the decline of the tourism industry in 2020 is three times higher than the global tourism recession that happened in 2009 due to economical imbalances yet due to the tireless effort of the HM and tourism workers raised the importance of tourism globally via clinical support and other ailments like sanitation, vaccination, and so on. Sanitation facilities have been highly recommended by the UNWTO across the globe, to engage the customers with better hygiene. With all these supports the tourism industry would be back in form by later 2022 in the famous tourist destinations of the globe which include Europe, America, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the middle east.
