TOFS-17 Joseph M. Cheer - After the pandemic: Tourism policy and planning and 'building back better’

After the pandemic: Tourism policy and planning and 'building back better’

Abstract:
As 2023 unfolds, tourism destinations have rapidly turned their attention toward recovery and ‘building back better’. The key question that resonates asks – what have we learned from the pandemic and how will this change the nature of global tourism? The restart of tourism has been slow and erratic, and government policies were evidently underprepared for the crisis. The reaction from governments is now focused on the urgent search for pathways toward economic recovery and increased social engagement, balanced against lingering public health concerns - a delicate balance with vast political, economic, and social implications. Policies at building confidence in destination communities and the tourism supply chain, as well as strengthening the assurance of travellers, are fundamental policy concerns. Has there really been a paradigm shift, or are we seeing a return to pre-COVID19 tourism patterns and tourist behaviours? What are the implications for destination communities and tourism systems?