Description
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in dramatic reductions in tourism mobility and represents a huge shock to the tourism sector and the communities that depend upon it. Early reflections on the impact of the pandemic and potential post-pandemic tourism futures have ranged from the dystopian to the transformational. While some see tourism bouncing back to pre-pandemic trends, others suggest that the pandemic can be perceived as a turning point, which can inform and initiate the transitioning of tourism into greener and more sustainable trajectories.Building on the notion of transformative moments, our presentation will reflect on the conceptualization of change within tourism in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will argue that the pandemic raises important issues and questions regarding the distinction between incremental and radical change, as well as the relationship between resistance, renewal and reorientation in the context of tourism. Drawing on empirical material from our research on the experience of European and Arctic tourism destinations we will explore the ways in which the pandemic can - and cannot - be understood as a transformative moment and what we might learn from pandemic innovations with regard to transitions towards more sustainable tourism futures.
| Period | 8 Sept 2021 |
|---|---|
| Event title | ATLAS annual conference : Tourism 21: Re-building Tourism – Continuities and Changes |
| Event type | Conference |
| Degree of Recognition | International |